The movement of plutonium, americium, and curium through the food chain

Abstract

The actinides, plutonium, americium and curium, are being produced in increasing quantites as the nuclear programme is expanded. As these alpha-particle-emitting elements are hazardous to man there is considerable concern about the movement of these elements through the environment; The uptake of these elements from soil into the plants is low, as is the gastrointestinal concentration factor. Although there are complexing agents in the environment which have been shown to complex these elements there is no evidence that these complexing agents might bring about a concentration of actinides in the food chain of man.