STRONTIUM-90 AND CESIUM-137 UPTAKE BY VEGETATION UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS
to man is one of the complex problems arising from reactor operations. Most of the information on the plant to n obtained from laboratory experiemnts utilizing nutrient solutions, prepared soils, and soils contaminated by weapons fallout. Little work has been done on these reLong-term studies on permanent areas contaminated with these radionuclides have not been reported. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has an area which is uniquely suited for long-term studies under field conditions. This area was formerly a 40-acre radioactive waste impoundment (White Oak Lake) which for 12 years received a continuous input of low-level radioactive wastes. Two years ago the gasin was drained, leaving about 35 acreas of contaminated terrain. The resulting soil in this area can be characterized as a relatively unconsolidated alluxial sediment, heterogeneous in composition, calcareous, somewhat saline, and alkaline in reaction. Concentrations of strontium-90 and cesium-137 in the first six inches range from 0.02 to 0.29 and from 0.5 to 2.0 microcuries per 100 grams of soil, respectively. Significant concentrations of cobalt-60, ruthenium-106, cerium-144, and the trivalent rare earths are present also. The mu mu c Sr-90 to 1 gram Ca* and the mu mu cCs-137 to 1 gram K ratios in the leaves of one pf tje matove STA;amts ){p;ugonum lapathifolium L.) on the lake bed ranged from 5.64 x 10 to 1.91 x 1/sup 5/ and from 7.73 x 10/sup 4/ to 1.67 x 10/sup 5/, respectively. As a part of the investigations of uptake by vegetation, four common varieties of corn (Zea mays), namely, Hickory Cane, try Gentleman, were planted in a part of the lake bed laid out in a latin square. Chemical and radiochemical (particularly strontium-90) analyses for the corn plants and native vegetation have not yet been completed nor have the data as yet been given a thorough statistical analysis. How-ever, the first results indicate that the concentra tions of cesium-137 to potassium ratios in the leaves, husks, cobs, and grain have the following ranges: Leaves, 2.91 x 10/sup 4/ to 5.87 x 10/sup 4/; husks, 2.18 x 10/sup 4/ to 4.18 x 10/sup 4 cobs, 1.76 x 10sup 4/ to 2.0 x 10/sup 4/; grain 1.54 x 10/sup 4/ to 1.84/ x 10/sup 4/. These data indicate a considerable discrimination against cesium-137 on the basis of 1 N ammonium acetate soil extractions of these cations. The strontium90--calcium ratios obtained in this calcareous soil varied with the mode of extraction of those cations. The range of variation compares favorably with that reported by other workers. (auth) .
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-014554
- OSTI ID:
- 4308952
- Report Number(s):
- A/CONF.15/P/401
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Prepared for the Second U.N. International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, 1958. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ACETATES- AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS- CALCIUM- CALCIUM CARBONATES- CATIONS- CESIUM 137- NITROGEN- SEPARATION PROCESSES- SOILS- STRONTIUM 90- VARIATIONS
ACIDITY- CALCIUM CARBONATES- CALCIUM COMPOUNDS- CESIUM 137- CONFERENCE- CONTAMINATION- FALLOUT- FISSION PRODUCTS- MAN- METABOLISM- NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS- OPERATION- PLANTS- RADIOACTIVITY- REACTORS- SALTS- SOILS- SOLUTIONS- STRONTIUM 90- SURFACES- USA- WASTE DISPOSAL- WATER
CALCIUM- CEREALS- CERIUM 144- CESIUM 137- COBALT 60- CONTAMINATION- DISTRIBUTION- LEAVES- METABOLISM- PLANTS- POTASSIUM- QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS- RADIATION DOSES- RADIOCHEMISTRY- RARE EARTHS