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Title: Plant uptake of /sup 239-240/Pu and /sup 241/Am from soil containing aged source materials

Journal Article · · Agron. Abstr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6382649

Several safety tests were conducted between 1954 and 1963 at the Nevada Test Site and the Tonopah Range wherein small amounts of plutonium were dispersed into the surrounding environment by chemical explosives. Findings from field studies in these fallout areas by the Nevada Applied Ecology Group indicated relatively low uptake of /sup 239-240/Pu by vegetation through plant roots. Results from plant uptake experiments under glasshouse conditions supported these findings. Discrimination factors ranging from 10/sup -4/ to 10/sup -3/ for /sup 239-240/Pu were obtained with barley grown on soil that had been contaminated with the source materials in 1957. The Pu/Am ratios for soil and barley samples also indicated greater root uptake of the ingrowth product, /sup 241/Am, relative to /sup 239-240/Pu from the aged source materials.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Los Angeles
OSTI ID:
6382649
Journal Information:
Agron. Abstr.; (United States), Vol. 67
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English