Environmental behavior of technetium in soil and vegetation. Implications for radiological assessments

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00098a008· OSTI ID:5530762

Hoffman, F O ^[1]; Garten, Jr, C T; Lucas, D M

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN

Field studies on technetium in soil and vegetation were performed to derive parameter values used in environmental assessment models. Measured values of field soil-to-plant transfer factors were 1-2 orders of magnitude less than values obtained from previously reported laboratory potted-plant experiments. The observed dynamics of technetium in contaminated field vegetation indicates the absence of a significant long-term bioaccumulation in terrestrial food chains. The dynamic behavior of technetium appears to be the consequence of the combined effects of growth dilution, removal of technetium from vegetation, and decreasing availability to vegetation over time of the technetium in soil. These results indicate that the radiological impact of technetium releases to the environment may be substantially less than predicted by assessment models using data derived solely from laboratory experiments.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5530762
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 16:3; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510302* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CHALCOGENIDES
DOSES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FOOD CHAINS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SOILS
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM COMPOUNDS
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
TECHNETIUM OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES