Distribution of cesium-137 and potassium-40 in soil and vegetation near nuclear facilities
- Savannah State College, GA (United States)
Cesium occurs in the rare mineral pollucite in pegmatites. Cesium-137 is a fission product liable to contaminate the environment. Cesium is a cogener of K present in feldspars and micas. During 1989-90, [sup 137]Cs and [sup 40]K were measured to study their abundance in soil and vegetation of the Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (humid region), and of the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP), Idaho Falls, ID (semi-arid region). Samples were collected from four sites at SRS and two at ICPP. Cesium-137 and [sup 40]K were measured using gamma-ray spectrometry. Results showed no leaching of [sup 137]Cs below 15 cm depth in all profiles excepting two on low ground at SRS, while [sup 40]K was uniform with depth in all soil proflies, indicating a rapid mobility and a decrease in [sup 137]Cs/[sup 40]K ratios with depth. Both nuclides were uniformily distributed in the SRS vegetation parts, but the grass roots at two higher-ground sites had high [sup 137]Cs. Concentrations of [sup 137]Cs in ICPP soils were much greater than in SRS soils, but [sup 137]Cs levels decreased markedly below 9-12 cm depths, showing no leaching. Cesium-137 concentrations in the ICPP vegetation were 5-fold or greater than in SRS vegetation, but [sup 40]K levels were similar. The study provided distribution patterns of two nuclides in two different soil vegetation systems.
- OSTI ID:
- 5431002
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9304207--
- Journal Information:
- Georgia Journal of Science; (United States), Journal Name: Georgia Journal of Science; (United States) Vol. 51:1; ISSN GJSCDQ; ISSN 0147-9369
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Excerpts from SRL monthly reports on waste management
Movement of /sup 137/Cs by runoff, erosion, and infiltration on the alluvial Captina silt loam
Related Subjects
540230* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ABUNDANCE
ALKA
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
IDAHO CHEMICAL PROCESSING PLANT
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LAND POLLUTION
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS TRANSFER
NANOSEC LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POTASSIUM 40
POTASSIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SOILS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES