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Root Transfer of Fission Products from Contaminated Soil¹

ABSTRACT

Dry yield of wheat grown for 117-days was not affected by solutions of nuclear reactor-produced mixed fission products (MFP) applied to the soil surface or mixed with equal amounts of potted soil at contamination level ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 µc. beta activity per g. of soil. Concentrations of beta and gamma activity in the above-ground parts of plants were increased as the soil contamination levels increased. Wheat removed from 0.07 to 0.09% of the total beta activity that had been mixed with the soil and from 0.10 to 0.15% of that which had been applied on to the soil surface. Concentrations of radioactivity in above-ground plant parts were highest in leaves, intermediate in stems and lowest in fruiting heads. Radiostrontium accounted for 50 to 80% of the beta activity transferred to above-ground plant parts; < 10% was attributable to root transfer of Y⁹¹, Ru¹⁰⁶, Cs¹³⁷ and Ce¹⁴⁴ from soil.

¹ From the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Biology, School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles. This study was supported by Contract AT (04-1)-GEN-12 between the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the University of California.

² Associate Research Soil Scientist, Associate Research Soil Scientist, Principal Laboratory Technician, and Research Biophysicist, respectively.

Received for publication November 3, 1961. Accepted for publication January 25, 1962.