Spatial variability of 137Cs in the soil of Belgrade region (Serbia)

Abstract

Among radionuclides in the soil deposited after Chernobyl accident, 137Cs poses considerable environmental and radiological problems because of its relatively long half-life (30.17 y), its abundance in the fallout, high mobility and similarity to potassium as the major plant nutrient. In this study the samples of undisturbed surface soil (n=250) were taken from 70 regions in Belgrade, during 2006-2010. The specific activities of 137Cs were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Based on obtained results external effective dose rates were calculated according to the internationally accepted activity to dose rate conversion equations. The specific activities of 137Cs were geographically mapped. The presence of 137Cs has been detected in all soil samples, with high variability of its specific activity, ranging from 3 Bq kg-1 to 87 Bq kg-1. The mean specific activity of 137Cs was 23 Bq kg-1 and the corresponding absorbed dose was 1.5 nSv h-1. The observed range reflects the inhomogeneity of the deposition process following the Chernobyl accident. It could also be attributed to topographic differences and spatial differences in physicochemical and biological soil properties, soil type and vegetation cover. The results of the present study could be valuable database for future estimations of the impact of radioactive pollution.

The Activity of Natural Radionuclides Th-232, Ra-226, K-40, and Na-22, and Anthropogenic Cs-137, in the Water, Sediment, and Common Carp Produced in Purified Wastewater from a Slaughterhouse

“…The results of the research by Krstić et al [38] showed that Cs-137 binds to the surface layer of the soil, up to a depth of 10 cm, and that its concentrations decrease with depth. According to results obtained by Janković-Mandić et al [28], the specific activity of Cs-137 in the soil samples collected from different locations in Belgrade was in the range of 3 to 87 Bq kg −1 , with the mean value of 23 Bq kg −1 . The authors explained that the expressed variability in activity of Cs-137 was a result of topographical differences and inhomogeneous surface contamination of the soil after the Chernobyl accident.…”

“…Mihaljev et al [27] conducted a study of the concentration of radionuclides in samples collected from three locations of the Danube River, two ponds and one lake on Fruška Gora, in which six types of fish (catfish, perch, pike, carp, carp, and carp) were examined. In the research of Janković-Mandić et al [28], the presence of Cs-137 was determined in all samples of uncultivable land from the area of the city of Belgrade. Large variations in the specific activity of the radionuclide, as well as the dose derived from it, were determined, which were attributed to spatial differences in the physical-chemical and biological properties of the soil, the soil type, and the fauna.…”

“…By analyzing the available literature and data on Cs-137 activity levels in different countries, it could be seen that higher activity was measured in countries that were exposed to the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl, such as Serbia [28,42,45], Republic Srpska [46], Croatia [47], Republic of Macedonia [48], and Turkey [49]. The activity of Cs-137 in Serbia ranged from 3 to 87 [28], in the Republic of Macedonia from 2 to 358 [48], and in Croatia from 36 to 326 [47]. In Turkey, it varied from 1 to 153 [49][50][51], and in the Republic Srpska it ranged from 2 to 68 [46].…”

Spatial and vertical distribution of 137Cs in soils in the erosive area of southeastern Serbia (Pčinja and South Morava River Basins)

“…In Serbia, 137 Cs mainly originated from the Chernobyl accident while its much smaller portion derives from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests (Petrović et al 2013;Janković-Mandić et al 2014). After the Chernobyl accident, the spatial and vertical migration of the 137 Cs in soil has become the main goal of a number of studies in Serbia (Bikit et al 2005;Dugalic et al 2010;Grdović et al 2010;Dragović et al 2012a;Petrović et al 2013).…”