Plutonium-239 and americium-241 uptake by plants from soil. Final report
Alfalfa was grown in soil contaminated with plutonium-239 dioxide (239PuO2) at a concentration of 29.7 nanocuries per gram (nCi/g). In addition to alfalfa, radishes, wheat, rye, and tomatoes were grown in soils contaminated with americium-241 nitrate (241Am(NO3)3) at a concentration of 189 nCi/g. The length of exposure varied from 52 days for the radishes to 237 days for the alfalfa. The magnitude of plutonium incorporation by the alfalfa as indicated by the concentration ratio, 0.0000025, was similar to previously reported data using other chemical forms of plutonium. The results did indicate, however, that differences in the biological availability of plutonium isotopes do exist. All of the species exposed to americium-241 assimilated and translocated this radioisotope to the stem, leaf, and fruiting structures. The magnitude of incorporation as signified by the concentration ratios varied from 0.00001 for the wheat grass to 0.0152 for the radishes. An increase in the uptake of americium also occurred as a function of time for four of the five plant species. Evidence indicates that the predominant factor in plutonium and americium uptake by plants may involve the chelation of these elements in soils by the action of compounds such as citric acid and/or other similar chelating agents released from plant roots.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV (USA). Environmental Monitoring and Support Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5486910
- Report Number(s):
- PB-298241
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560173* -- Radiation Effects-- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
CEREALS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
GROWTH
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
METABOLISM
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADISHES
SOILS
TIME DEPENDENCE
VEGETABLES
WHEAT
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES