Transfer of radionuclides from soil to grass in Northern Taiwan

Ismail

et al. 2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

The analysis of gamma emitters natural radionuclides, i.e., 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K, has been carried out in soil, vegetation, vegetable, and water samples collected from some Northern area of Pakistan, using gamma-ray spectrometry. The γ-ray spectrometry was carried out using high-purity Germanium detector coupled with a computer-based high-resolution multi-channel analyzer. The activity concentrations in soil ranges from 24.7 to 78.5 Bq kg −1 , 21.7 to 75.3 Bqkg −1 , and 298.5 to 570.8 Bq kg −1 for 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K with the mean value of 42.1, 43.3, 9.5, and 418.3 Bqkg −1 , respectively. In the present analysis, 40 K was the major radionuclide present in soil, vegetation, fruit, and vegetable samples. The concentration of 40 K in vegetation sample varied from 646.6 to 869.6 Bqkg −1 on dry weight basis. However, the concentration of 40 K in fruit and vegetable samples varied from 34.0 to 123.3 Bqkg −1 on fresh weight basis. In vegetation samples, along with 40 K, 226 Ra, and 232 Th were also present in small amount. The transfer factors of these radionuclides from soil to vegetation, fruit, and vegetable were also studied. The transfer factors were found in the order: 40 K> 232 Th≈ 226 Ra. The analysis of water samples showed activity concentrations values for all radionuclides below detection limit. The internal and external hazard indices were measured and found less than the safe limit of unity. The mean value of outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate in air was found 64.61 and 77.54 nGyh −1 , respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides found in all samples during the current investigation were nominal. Therefore, they are not associated with any potential source of health hazard to the general public.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

Measurement of Radionuclides and Gamma-Ray Dose Rate in Soil and Transfer of Radionuclides from Soil to Vegetation, Vegetable of Some Northern Area of Pakistan Using γ-Ray Spectrometry

Ismail

et al. 2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

“…The 137 Cs transfer into roots was also influenced greatly by the soil properties (Table III).The TF of 137 Cs generally decreased with increasing potassium contents (Table III) in soils. Similar findings have been reported earlier that TF of 137 Cs decreases with increasing concentrations of K in soil (Kühn et al, 1984;Wang et al, 1997). Gerzabek et al (1989) also found TF of 137 Cs in grains and straw of rye similar to our values (straw: 0.0250-0.0635; grains: 0.0040-0.0280 dry wt.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Results also demonstrated that concentration of exchangeable K had positive correlation with 137 Cs activity in soils, straw and grains, but negative correlation with activity in roots an antagonizing effect of K on root uptake of 137 Cs. A decrease in 137 Cs uptake in plants due to increase in K in soil has been reported by many authors (Kuehn et al, 1983;Wang et al, 1997). Potassium was negatively correlated with 137 Cs activity in soil and wheat root.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…It was reported that TF of 137 Cs increased with increased organic materials in soil (Bergeijk et al, 1992). It decreased with clay content (Kühn et al, 1984), K content (Kuehn et al, 1983;Wang et al, 1997) and pH of the soil (Kühn et al, 1984;Wang et al, 1997). However, these findings were contradicted by the results that the TF of 137 Cs is not influenced by soil pH (Bergeijk et al, 1992) or by clay content of soil (Smolders et al, 1997).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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137Cs-Uptake into Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Plants from Five Representative Soils of Bangladesh

Monira

Mollah

et al. 2005

Environ Monit Assess

A pot experiment was conducted to study the uptake of 137Cs by wheat grown in five representative soils of Bangladesh having different soil characteristics. Artificial application of 137Cs increased the activity in soils up to 45.9 Bq/kg soil, measured at the end of the harvest of wheat crop. Different plant parts had different ability to accumulate 137Cs. Grains had the least activity and transfer factor, while the highest activity and lowest transfer factor were measured in roots, which restricted translocation of 137Cs to wheat straw. The result showed that the transfer factors (mean value) varied from 0.05 to 0.114 in wheat straw, 0.066-0.133 in roots and 0.011-0.043 in wheat grains. The activity and transfer factor of radioactive cesium in wheat plants were found to be greatly influenced by soil properties, i.e. clay content, K, organic matter, CEC, pH, exchangeable ions, etc. Cation exchange capacity and calcium in soils influenced positively, while clay minerals, exchangeable K and organic matter, negatively affected the 137Cs activity concentrations in wheat plants.

“…Transfer factor is a useful parameter for radiological assessment and is defined as the steady state concentration between one physical situation and another, e.g., the ratio of the concentration of an element in dry food to that in dry soil (Wang et al 1997);…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Radionuclides, Trace Metals and Radionuclide Transfer from Soil to Food of Jhangar Valley (Pakistan) Using Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

Chaudhry

Ismail

et al. 2010

Water Air Soil Pollut

The gamma spectrometric analysis of soil and essential foodstuffs, e.g., wheat, millet, potato, lentils and cauliflower, which form the main component of the daily diet of the local public, was carried out using high purity germanium (HpGe) detector coupled with a computer based high-resolution multichannel analyzer. The activity concentration in soil samples for 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K ranged from 30.0 Bq kg −1 to 81.2 Bq kg −1 , 31.4 Bq kg −1 to 78.25 Bq kg −1 and 308.8 Bq kg −1 to 2177.6 Bq kg −1 , with mean values of 56.2, 58.5 and 851.9 Bq kg −1 , respectively. The average activity measured for 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in soil samples was found higher than the world average. The major radionuclide found in the food items studied was 40 K, while 226 Ra, 232 Th and 137 Cs were detected in very nominal amounts. The results clearly indicate that these radionuclides have no health hazard to human beings, as they are well below the annual limit of intake (ALI) for these radionuclides. The transfer factors of these radionuclides from soil to food were also studied. The mean transfer factors of 40 K, 226 Ra, 232 Th and 137 Cs from soil to food were estimated to be about 0.17, 0.07, 0.16 and 0.23, respectively. An artificial radionuclide, 137 Cs, was also present in detectable amount in all samples. The internal and external hazard indices were measured and had mean values of 0.70 and 0.55, respectively. Absorbed dose rates and effective dose have been determined in the present study. Concentration of trace metals, such as Cr, Pb, Ni and Zn, was also determined in the soil samples. The concentrations of radionuclides and trace metals found in these samples during the present study were nominal and do not pose any potential health hazard to the general public.