Radionuclide concentrations in vegetation at a solid radioactive waste-disposal area in southeastern Idaho

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1982.00472425001100030015x· OSTI ID:5821930

Arthur, III, W J

Concentrations of /sup 238/Pu, /sup 239,240/Pu, and /sup 241/Am in crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn) and Russian thistle (Salsola kali L.) samples collected at a solid radioactive waste-disposal area in southeastern Idaho were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) greater than concentrations in control vegetation. No significant differences were found for /sup 90/Sr or /sup 137/Cs concentrations between the waste-disposal and control-area vegetation. Russian thistle had more radionuclide contamination than crested wheatgrass, presumably because of its greater rooting depth and spreading growth. The total radionuclide inventory of /sup 90/Sr, /sup 137/Cs, /sup 238/Pu, /sup 239,240/Pu, and /sup 241/Am in vegetation at the 36-ha waste-disposal area (77 ..mu..Ci) was not significantly (P > 0.05) greater than the 17 ..mu..Ci in control-area vegetation. Ninety percent of the radioactivity in waste-disposal area vegetation and 99% in control-area vegetation were attributed to /sup 90/Sr and /sup 137/Cs. The Pu inventory in Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA) vegetation was only 0.02% of the quantity of Pu estimated to occur in SDA surface soils in 1974. Accumulation of radionuclides by vegetation is not considered a major mode of radionuclide transport through the environment surrounding this radioactive-waste-disposal area.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls
• OSTI ID: 5821930
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 11:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510301* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AMERICIUM 241
AMERICIUM ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
STRONTIUM 90
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES