SREL
Reprint #2575
A
comparison of 9OSr and 137Cs uptake
in plants via three pathways at two Chernobyl-contaminated
sites
M.A.
Malek, T.G. Hinton*, S.B. Webb
Savannah
River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Drawer
E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
Received 2 June 2000; received in revised form 2 November
2000; accepted 10 November 2000
Abstract
Foliar absorption
of resuspended 9OSr, root uptake and contamination
adhering to leaf surfaces (i.e. soil loading) were compared
at two Chernobyl-contaminated sites, Chistogalovka and Polesskoye.
Although foliar absorption of resuspended 9OSr
was quantifiable, its contribution amounted to less than
10% of the plants' total, above-ground contamination. Root
uptake was 200 times greater than foliar absorption at the
near-field site of Chistogalovka and eight times greater
at Polesskoye, where the fallout consisted of the more soluble
condensation-type, rather than fuel particles. Strontium's
bioavailability exceeded that of 137Cs (analyzed
in the same plants) by orders of magnitude when compared
using concentration ratios. Simplistic, cumulative effective
dose calculations for humans ingesting 90Sr-
and 137 Cs-contaminated plants revealed that
the dose at Chistogalovka was greater from 90Sr
(185 mSv vs. 3 mSv from 137CS), while at Polesskoye
the dose from 137Cs (66mSv) was 30 times greater
than from 9OSr (2 mSv). Published by Elsevier
Science Ltd.
Keywords:
Foliar absorption; Resuspension; Soil loading; 137Cs;
9OSr; Root uptake; Risk
SREL Reprint
#2575
