Fate of plutonium intercepted by leaf surfaces: leachability and translocation to seed and root tissues

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:4167379

Cataldo, D A; Klepper, E L; Craig, D K

A low windspeed plant exposure chamber was employed for the generation and deposition of particulate $sup 238$Pu as nitrate, citrate, and oxide (fresh and aged) onto foliage of Phaseolus vulgaris. Physical deposition characteristics and particle sizing were routinely measured and deposition parameters calculated. At wind speeds of 0.42 cm sec$sup -1$, deposition velocities for these compounds were of the order 10$sup -3$ cm sec$sup -1$ with deposition rates onto exposed foliage of 0.26 to 0.52 pg $sup 238$Pu cm$sup -2$ sec$sup -1$. The fate of surface deposited Pu compounds with respect to chemical modification and leachability was evaluated by leaching with synthetic rainwater and 0.1 percent HNO$sub 3$ solutions. Leaching of contaminated foliage with acidified solutions resulted in a 1-to-9 fold increase in Pu removal from foliar surfaces, depending upon chemical form, as compared to rainwater. Sequential leaching of foliage at 1, 7, 14, or 21 days after contamination indicated a reduced leachability of surface deposits with residence time on the leaf. The extent of leaching and concentration of soluble component was dependent on chemical form supplied (Pu-citrate greater than -nitrate greater than -aged oxide greater than -fresh oxide). The bioavailability of Pu as measured by translocation of foliarly deposited plutonium to root and seed tissue was markedly affected by the presence of a solution vector (i.e., simulated rainfall), and also the timing of its application. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, Wash. (USA)
• NSA Number: NSA-33-005820
• OSTI ID: 4167379
• Report Number(s): BNWL-SA--5389; CONF-751105--15; SM--199/60
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*PHASEOLUS-- RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
*PLUTONIUM 238-- TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
560173* --Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies--Radiation Effects--Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology--Plants
AEROSOL GENERATORS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CITRATES
DESIGN
LEAVES
N44300 --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport
N44340 --Environmental & Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring & Transport--Ecosystems & Food Cycles
N48730* --Life Sciences--Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Plants
NITRATES
OXIDES
PLANTS
REMOVAL
ROOTS
SEEDS