Agronomic factors affecting polonium-210 and lead-210 levels in tobacco. II. Varieties and curing methods

Journal Article · · Agron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1968.00021962006000060019x· OSTI ID:6355859

Tso, T C; Carr, J M; Ferri, E S; Baratta, E J

Tobacco seedlings accumulated Pb/sup 210/ and Po/sup 210/ to a concentration much higher than that found in the soil. The levels of these radioelements decreased as the plants grew. Only minor differences were observed in harvested leaves of two flue-cured varieties - Coker 319 and Virginia Bright Leaf. The Pb/sup 210/ and Po/sup 210/ content in the seeds are in much lower levels than those in the respective leaves produced from the same plant. Neither of the two methods of flue-curing - a closed system with wood or an open system with kerosene - resulted in significant differences in radioisotope levels of cured leaf. Pb/sup 210/ and Po/sup 210/, if present in the combustion products of wood, were trapped in or exhausted through the flue pipes and were not deposited on the tobacco. Kerosene, because it contains little radioactivity, would not contribute much to the Pb/sup 210/ level of cured leaf when fully exposed to products of combustion in an open system.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD
• OSTI ID: 6355859
• Journal Information: Agron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Agron. J.; (United States) Vol. 60; ISSN AGJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510302* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains-- (-1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BUILDUP
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURING
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GROWTH
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
TOBACCO
UPTAKE
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES