Radioactive Contamination of Lichens and Mosses Collected in South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula

Mietelski, J.W., Gaca, Pawel and Olech, M.A. (2000) Radioactive Contamination of Lichens and Mosses Collected in South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 245, 527-537. (doi:10.1023/A:1006748924639).

Abstract

Samples belonging to two species of lichen and one of moss collected on the Antarctic seashore (King George Island, Deception, Antarctic Peninsula) were analysed for gamma-emitters using HPGe gamma-spectrometry, and for alpha-emitters using alpha-spectrometry with silicon detectors. Observed 137Cs activities show large variations: from 4.1±0.4 to 74±3 Bq/kg. Total activity of 210Pb changed from <2 to 125±35 Bq/kg. The 2391240Pu activity ranged from 0.07±0.02 to 2.95±0.16 Bq/kg. The activity of 238Pu ranged from <0.02 to 0.64±0.04 Bq/kg. Maximum 238U and 234U activity was 7 Bq/kg, respectively, and 0.3 Bq/kg for 235U, whereas minimum activities were below 0.5 Bq/kg for 234U and 238U and about 0.02 Bq/kg for 235U. The 235U to 238U activity ratio for most of the samples was natural. Thorium activities were about two times lower than those for uranium. The activities of 147Sm ranged from 0.014±0.002 to 1.0±0.2 Bq/kg. One sample had relatively high activity of 241Am: 3.38±0.11 Bq/kg, another did not exceeded 1 Bq/kg. Observed activity ratios confirmed differences between mosses and lichen accumulation properties for radionuclides. Lichens are more selective for plutonium accumulation. Some radiocesium and probably also americium can be leached from them.

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