Root absorption of /sup 222/Rn and its transfer into above-ground plant organs

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198605000-00002· OSTI ID:5691766

Taskayev, A I; Popova, O N; Alexakhin, R M; Testov, B V

Experimental data are given on the content of genetically related pairs of radionuclides (/sup 226/Ra and /sup 222/Rn; /sup 224/Ra and /sup 220/Rn) in soils and the above-ground phytomass of plants growing on plots with differing genesis of the higher concentrations of natural radionuclides in soils. Methods for determining gaseous radionuclides in the above-ground phytomass are described. Different transport routes of /sup 222/Rn and /sup 220/Rn into above-ground plant organs are considered. The noted absence of balance between /sup 222/Rn and /sup 226/Ra in plants as well as higher /sup 222/Rn//sup 226/Ra ratios in the above-ground phytomass as compared to that of the root-containing soil layer (25- to 185-fold) appears to be accounted for by the root pathway of /sup 222/Rn uptake and transport of this radionuclide to above-ground plants organs. The existence of the root pathway for /sup 222/Rn uptake is proved by direct observations of daily radionuclide movement with bleeding sap in experiments on pumpkins. For the short-lived Rn isotopes, /sup 220/Rn and /sup 218/Rn, the root pathway of uptake and transport to the above-ground phytomass is less probable, and this causes a notable redistribution of gaseous radionuclides during their movement along the soil-plant route.

• Research Organization: Institute of Biology, Syktyvkar, USSR
• OSTI ID: 5691766
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510302* -- Environment
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.
ABSORPTION
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
PLANT SAP
PLANTS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM 219
RADIUM 224
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RADON 220
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
ROOT ABSORPTION
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
SOILS
UPTAKE
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES