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Effects of chemical climate on soil depth distribution and plant uptake of radiocaesium in forest ecosystems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2012

H. Thørring
Affiliation:
Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, P.O. Box 55, NO-1332 Østerås, Norway
L. Skuterud
Affiliation:
Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, P.O. Box 55, NO-1332 Østerås, Norway
E. Steinnes
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
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Abstract

The aim of the present work was to study the impact of chemical climate (i.e. the chemical composition of precipitation) on radioactive caesium in soil and plants. This was done through field studies and a laboratory experiment. Three types of precipitation regimes were considered in both cases, representing a natural range found in Norway: Acidic precipitation (southernmost part of the country); precipitation rich in marine cations (coastal areas); and low concentrations of sea salts (inland areas). Results indicate that acid rain increases the mobility and the plant availability of radioactive caesium.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2011

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References

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