Uptake of plutonium isotopes by green onions in different growing mediums

Abstract

During the growing experiment, the uptake of plutonium isotopes by green onions (Allium cepa Centurion F1) grown on distilled water, Ellis nutrient solution and sod-podzolic soil was studied. The analysis of plutonium isotopes was carried out by alpha spectrometry with preliminary radiochemical separation. It has been determined that the uptake of 239+240Pu by the green onions decreases in a row: distilled water > Ellis nutrient solution ≫ sod-podzolic soil. The transfer factors of plutonium isotopes in green onions were 1.7 ± 0.4 for distilled water; 0.7 ± 0.2 for Ellis nutrient solution; 0.0054 ± 0.0014 for soddy-podzolic soil.