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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Behavior of technetium-99 in soils and plants

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4025473· OSTI ID:4025473
Work described in this report is aimed at establishing the magnitude and mechanisms of $sup 99$Tc sorption by soils and uptake by plants. Studies showed that sorption of $sup 99$Tc by soils was essentially stopped by sterilization of the soil, further indicating that the sorption process is related to microbial activity. Studies also showed that sorption can occur under aerobic as well as anerobic conditions. However, there was considerable difference in the extent of sorption for different soils which remains to be explained. $sup 99$Tc was shown to be toxic to germinating seeds at low concentrations, but not when added to more mature plants. Initial evidence suggests this is a chemically rather than a radiologically induced toxicity but this remains to be completely resolved as well as whether there is a threshold level of $sup 99$Tc required before toxicity occurs. (auth)
Research Organization:
Minnesota Univ., St. Paul (USA). Dept. of Soil Science
NSA Number:
NSA-33-026009
OSTI ID:
4025473
Report Number(s):
COO--2447-4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English