Uptake of plutonium from soils contaminated by a nuclear fuel chemical separations facility

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Soil Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-198107000-00013· OSTI ID:6014485

McLeod, K W; Adriano, D C; Ciravolo, T G

A greenhouse experiment investigated factors influencing root uptake of Pu by agricultural crops from soils receiving effluents from a nuclear fuel chemical separations facility. Results indicate that uptake of /sup 238/Pu and /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu from soil was very low. Large differences in Pu soil concentrations did not produce uptake differences, indicating that uptake was independent of soil concentrations in this case. Both liming the soil and chelate addition to limed soils produced only very slight differences in uptake of Pu. Plutonium concentrations in clover and soybean were similar or slightly higher than those for corn, wheat, and bahiagrass. Reproductive parts of these crops had similar concentrations of Pu to their corresponding vegetative parts. Only very minimal quantities of Pu were incorporated into edible portions of crops grown in soil containing 5 pCiPu/g and would pose little health hazard to man if ingested.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC
• OSTI ID: 6014485
• Journal Information: Soil Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci.; (United States) Vol. 132:1; ISSN SOSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510301 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Soil-- (-1987)
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
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CEREALS
CLOVER
CONCENTRATION RATIO
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FOOD
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEGUMINOSAE
MAIZE
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
PLANTS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM 240
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ROOT ABSORPTION
SOILS
SOYBEANS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES
WHEAT
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES