[ RadSafe ] Cs-137 uptake in plants.

[Geo>K0FF]

Still doing research on Cs-137 uptake mechanisms in plants. Lots of new data since that unpleasantness in Chernobyl.

Talked to state soil scientists at the Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) and they have no information about Cs or Cs-137 in soil in Missouri.

Looks like I will have to do my own Gamma or Beta  survey, charting the Cs-1237 in soil here, as we are on the map as one of the hot spots for Nevada fallout. Fun project in the future. Will fill Marinelli beakers with soil from different area and do spec on them. Maybe get one of the schools to participate. I'll add that to my impossibly long list.

Cs of any isotope is a potassium mimic. 

The more exchangeable K, the less Cs-137 uptake in the root.

Presence of stable Cs in the soil alters the Cs-137 uptake, slightly. See charts 1.3 A and B:
http://www.llnl.gov/tid/lof/documents/pdf/241100.pdf

Main uptake path is foliar.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/rp/factsheets/factsheets-pdf/fs25cs137.pdf

In Missouri, potassium accounts for about 10,000 to 50,000 pounds of soil PER ACRE (surface plow area). Most is not "exchangeable" and is of no use to the plants.
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/soils/g09185.htm

Wow. that's a lot of K-40 too. Natural K has 0.0117% K-40 isotope. No wonder the 1460 keV line is our principle source of background radiation here.


George Dowell
NLNL/ New London Nucleonics Laboratory

573-221-3418

GEOelectronics at netscape.com



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