DISPERSION OF RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES IN THE SOIL BY EARTHWORMS (in Russian)
The effects of earthworms on the distribution and migration of radioisotopes in contaminated earth were investigated. Data on the mean Ca/sup 45/ and Sr/sup 90/ activity of a single worm and its coprolith in contaminated soil are tabulated. It is shown that the specific radioactivity in the earthworm quickly reaches a maximum and remains unchanged during further inhabitance in the contuminated soil. The specific activity of the earthworm can reach that of the soil; however, after leaving the contuminated area, the activity is rapidly reduced in the worm. The specific activity of the earthworm coprolith is close to that of the body; sometimes it exceeds the activity of both the body and the soil due to uptake of organic material of higher radioactivity. The experiment shows that the influence of earthworms on dissemination of shont-lifs isotopes is negligible but that with long-life isotopes it may be more noticeable. (R.V.J.)
- Research Organization:
- Inst. of Biological Physics, Academy of Sciences, USSR; and Williams All-Union Inst. of (Fodder) Agriculture, USSR
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-012707
- OSTI ID:
- 4079028
- Journal Information:
- Doklady Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Vol. Vol: 135; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- Russian
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