Mechanisms for Radon-222 transport in vascular plants, and uptake of radium-226 in C/sub 3/ and C/sub 4/ species: Final report for period August 5, 1985-December 31, 1987

Technical Report · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7225266

Lewis, B G

Previous work in our laboratory had provided quantitation of plant exhalation of Radon-222. This present work focused on the mechanisms of the phenomenon. Experiments with radon diffusion through paraffin indicated that plant epicuticular wax would present essentially no barrier to radon unlike its effect on water vapor diffusion. Thus, radon and water transport in the plant appear to be decoupled primarily in the leaf mesophyll. Transport of radon from root to leaf appears to be primarily as convective flow in the xylem fluid, but diffusion of radon from the fluid into air spaces within the plant probably occurs. Experiments with plants in solution culture indicated that, generally, C/sub 3/ species tended to have higher tissue concentrations of Radium-226, but these differences were less marked, and could even be reversed, for C/sub 3/ and C/sub 4 plants within the same genus. Manipulating solution culture pH was not dramatically effective in reducing Radium-226 uptake. 8 refs., 3 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-85ER60369
• OSTI ID: 7225266
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60369-T1; ON: DE88011607
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PLANTS
TRANSPIRATION
RADIUM 226
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADON 222
SOILS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
C4 SPECIES
CALVIN CYCLE SPECIES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
MAIZE
MILL TAILINGS
PH VALUE
PLANT TISSUES
PROGRESS REPORT
REMEDIAL ACTION
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CEREALS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GRASS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
TISSUES
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560162* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
510300 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)