Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 January 2012
The two-chamber (water and bottom sediments) model was used to analyze factors influencing magnitude of 137Cs accumulation factor in bottom sediments of rivers and lakes with concentration of the radionuclide close to background levels. The most probable values of the factor are given. It is proposed to use the factor for assessments of 137Cs activity in water on the base of its observed activity in bottom sediments.