Uptake of radionuclides by vegetation at a High Arctic location

Quantification of transfer of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in mosses of a semi-natural ecosystem

“…A strong positive correlation (p 0.01) was observed for CEC and the concentration ratio of 40 K. No significant correlation was found between particle size distribution and radionuclide CRs, except for a positive correlation (p 0.05) between clay content and 226 Ra concentration ratio. Overall, these findings are in good agreement with those obtained by Dowdall et al (2005) for some moss species collected from a High Arctic location. The relatively weak correlation between the CRs of radionuclides in mosses and soil parameters obtained in this study emphasizes the specific uptake mechanisms of these species in respect to vascular plants.…”

“…Similar concentration ratios (mean of 0.30) were obtained for mosses in a Canadian survey (Sheppard et al, 2006). The values obtained in this work are lower than those obtained for mosses at a High Arctic location (Dowdall et al, 2005). They are also several-fold lower than CRs obtained for 226 Ra in mosses growing in the vicinity of lignite power plants in West Macedonia, Greece (Tsikritzis et al, 2003).…”

“…Thorium concentration ratios in the mosses analysed here varied between 0.06 and 0.48 with a geometric mean value of 0.19. These values are lower than those obtained for the High Arctic area (Dowdall et al, 2005), but several-fold higher than the values used in ERICA Tool (Beresford et al, 2008). The concentration ratios for 40 K ranged from 0.15 to 0.96 with a geometric mean value of 0.55.…”

Lichens and Particulate Matter: Inter-relations and Biomonitoring with Lichens

“…A report presented by Mitchell et al (1998) of different radionuclides such as curium (Cm) detected in soil and in lichens excluded, however, the relevant data of lichen identity and substrate. Several studies dealt with radionuclides in epigeic lichens providing forage, and in soil, in Nordic countries (Varskog et al 1994;Pálsson et al 1994;Outola et al 2003;Skuterud et al 2005;Dowdall et al 2005;Korobova et al 2007;Lehto et al 2008).…”

“…Lichens, mosses, vascular plants, and soil in a High Arctic location (Svalbard) were analyzed for their comparative content of the above-mentioned elements. According to Dowdall et al (2005), the levels of 137 Cs in vegetation generally followed the order: mosses > lichens > vascular plants. This sequence was explained by the different mechanism of uptake of this radionuclide.…”