Plant transfer factors of naturally occurring radioactive decay series radionuclides, 7Be, and 137Cs in a semi-arid climate

V M Expósito-Suárez; J A Suárez-Navarro; E Fernández; M Barragán; O C Lind; J Mantero; R García-Tenorio

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111616

Plant transfer factors of naturally occurring radioactive decay series radionuclides, ⁷Be, and ¹³⁷Cs in a semi-arid climate

Appl Radiat Isot. 2024 Dec 9:217:111616. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111616. Online ahead of print.

Authors

V M Expósito-Suárez¹, J A Suárez-Navarro², E Fernández¹, M Barragán¹, O C Lind³, J Mantero³, R García-Tenorio⁴

Affiliations

¹ Environmental Radioactivity and Radiological Monitoring Unit (URAyVR), Energy, Environment and Technology Research Centre (CIEMAT), 28020, Madrid, Spain.
² Environmental Radioactivity and Radiological Monitoring Unit (URAyVR), Energy, Environment and Technology Research Centre (CIEMAT), 28020, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
⁴ Department of Applied Physic, ETS Arquitectura, University of Seville, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.

PMID: 39671890
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111616

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid climates give rise to drought stress in plants, implying an increased uptake of radionuclides through both leaves and roots. This study was carried out in the Tabernas Desert (Almería, Spain), classified as an arid climate. Seventeen plants were analyzed, collected from four areas of the study site. The soils in the four areas were statistically comparable and showed a chemical composition and activity concentrations characteristic of uncontaminated soils, with activity concentrations corresponding to world averages, i.e., 31 ± 4 Bq·kg^-1 for the uranium series, 37 ± 4 Bq·kg^-1 for thorium one, and 344 ± 17 Bq·kg^-1 for ⁴⁰K. Conversely, the soils showed that ⁷Be was below the limit of detection, levels of ¹³⁷Cs equivalent to fallout, but an average ²¹⁰Pb_ex of 19 ± 9 Bq·kg^-1. The radionuclides of the three naturally occurring radioactive decay series are mainly present in the insoluble fraction, with ²²⁶Ra being the most abundant. The transfer factors showed the usual behaviour of Cs > Ra > U > Th. The activity concentrations of ⁷Be and ²¹⁰Pb showed a statistically significant linear relationship, indicating greater incorporation through the plant leaves.