Uptake by sagebrush of uranium progeny injected in situ
Uptake of /sup 226/Ra, /sup 210/Pb, and /sup 210/Po in mature big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) was studied in the environs of a U mine in Shirley Basin, WY. Radionuclide solutions were injected into the soil to elevate the soil activity while minimizing root disturbance and preventing soil surface contamination. The objectives of this study were to measure the concentration in leaves resulting from root uptake as a function of time and to determine the equilibrium concentration ratio (CR) for each radionuclide. The vegetation was sampled approximately every 90 d for a 2-yr period. The maximum internal plant concentration of /sup 226/Ra, /sup 210/Pb, and /sup 210/Po was detected at the first sampling (81 d after soil injection for /sup 226/Ra, 28 d for /sup 210/Pb and /sup 210/Po). The concentration in leaves decreased over time following the first sampling to an apparent steady-state value. The steady-state CR values for /sup 226/Ra, /sup 210/Pb, and /sup 2100/Po, as determined in mature sagebrush, were approximately 0.04, 0.009, and 0.08, respectively, and were determined as the geometric mean (GM) of the CR data pooled over the 2nd-yr period. The CR data were fit by nonlinear least squares to a exponential function that decreased with time to a constant value.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-79EV10305
- OSTI ID:
- 7036367
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 15:4; ISSN JEVQA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560162 -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
PLANTS
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
SHRUBS
SOILS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
UPTAKE
URANIUM MINES
USA
WYOMING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES