Influence of chemical composition of precipitation on migration of radioactive caesium in natural soils

J Environ Radioact. 2014 Aug:134:114-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.03.006. Epub 2014 Apr 3.

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to study the impact of the chemical composition of precipitation on radiocaesium mobility in natural soil. This was done through column studies. Three types of precipitation regimes were studied, representing a natural range found in Norway: Acidic precipitation (southernmost part of the country); precipitation rich in marine cations (highly oceanic coastal areas); and low concentrations of sea salts (slightly continental inland areas). After 50 weeks and a total precipitation supply of ∼10 000 L m(-2) per column, results indicate that acidic precipitation increased the mobility of (134)Cs added during the experiment. However, depth distribution of already present Chernobyl fallout (137)Cs was not significantly affected by the chemical composition of precipitation.

Keywords: Acid rain; Chemical climate; Chernobyl fall-out; Column study; Natural soil; Vertical distribution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cesium Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Cesium Radioisotopes / chemistry*
  • Chernobyl Nuclear Accident
  • Climate
  • Radioactive Fallout
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cesium Radioisotopes
  • Radioactive Fallout
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive