Assessment of 137Cs and 239,240Pu Distribution in Forest Soils of the Opole Anomaly

Abstract

Distribution of 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu in the forest soils horizons of the Opole Anomaly was established. Gamma and alpha spectrometry was used for determination of these isotopes. It was found that the 137 Cs activity was approx. 1,000 times higher than that of 239,240 Pu. The highest activities of both radioisotopes were found close to the boundary region in soil profile where the organic horizon turns into the inorganic one. Cluster analysis did not clearly indicate the group's existence in data in respect to 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu activities and organic matter content. Distributions of 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu in soil horizons were non-normal but similar to each other. These distributions were substantially different from that one for organic matter content. The data were separated into two groups, for organic and inorganic soil horizons, respectively. Data transformation using Box-Cox formula was performed following by standardization.Mutual relationships between variables were investigated using ordinary and robust regression methods. Good correlation between 137 Cs and 239,240 Pu was found. No significant relationship between organic matter content and radioisotopes activity was asserted.

History and current research in the field of radiochemistry at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University

“…In this way, it was possible, for example, to measure the concentration of 90 Sr, 239+240 Pu, and beta-emitting 241 Pu in subsequent layers of the soil profiles. This enabled us to calculate a vertical migration rate of the isotopes [ 46 , 48 – 52 ].…”

Study on the rate of plutonium vertical migration in various soil types of Lublin region (Eastern Poland)

“…Studies on determination of radioisotope concentration level in soils of Lublin region were started in 1996 [ 5 ] and continued in 1999 [ 6 ]. Particularly, a vertical transport of different radionuclides in soil [ 6 , 7 ], their binding with the soil fractions with different physicochemical properties using sequential extraction [ 8 ], transfer to plants [ 9 ] and animals [ 10 ] has been studied.…”

The activity concentration of post-Chernobyl 137Cs in the area of the Opole Anomaly (southern Poland)

“…It has been demonstrated that approximately 90 % of 137 Cs is stored in the top 10 cm of soil (e.g. Takenaka et al 1998;Beli et al 1994;Ziembik et al 2010).…”

“…This study, similar to other studies that have documented translocation of 137 Cs from soil to higher plants (Tagami et al 2012;Lukšienė et al 2013), demonstrates that there may be local dispersion of 137 Cs accumulated in soil. 137 Cs in the environment is tied up mainly in topsoil, and its circulation is limited to genetic levels O-A, from which it is integrated into the plant structure via the root system, creating a new sub-level Ol over time (Ziembik et al 2010;Dołhańczuk-Śródka et al 2006;Dołhańczuk-Śródka and Wacławek 2007). Such local dispersion can be illustrated by wider zones, limited by isolines, created by comparing the results from studies carried out in 2007 and 2010 (Fig.…”