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Cesium-137 in grass from Chernobyl fallout
C Papastefanou1, M Manolopoulou, S Stoulos
1Department of Physics, Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. papastefanou@physics.auth.gr
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
|June 1, 2005
Summary
Cesium-137 (137Cs) levels in grassland grasses decreased significantly over 16 years following the Chernobyl disaster. The ecological half-life of 137Cs in this ecosystem was determined to be approximately 40 months.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Radiological Science
- Ecology
Background:
- The Chernobyl reactor accident on April 26, 1986, released significant amounts of radionuclides, including Cesium-137 (137Cs).
- Grasslands are important ecosystems that can accumulate and retain radionuclides from atmospheric deposition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To monitor the long-term behavior of Cesium-137 (137Cs) in a grassland ecosystem.
- To determine the ecological half-life of 137Cs in grass species (Gramineae or Poaceae).
Main Methods:
- Long-term monitoring of 137Cs concentrations in grassland vegetation.
- Analysis of 137Cs levels over a 16-year period post-Chernobyl accident.
Main Results:
- Cesium-137 concentrations in grass varied over five orders of magnitude, from 122.9 Bq kg(-1) in 1986 to 5.8 mBq kg(-1) in 2001.
- A clear decreasing trend of 137Cs concentration over time was observed.
- The calculated ecological half-life (T(ec)) for 137Cs in the grassland was 40 months (3 1/3 years).
Conclusions:
- Grasslands show a significant capacity for retaining Cesium-137, with a notable decline over time.
- The ecological half-life of 40 months indicates a relatively slow but steady removal of 137Cs from this ecosystem.
- Understanding radionuclide dynamics in grasslands is crucial for assessing long-term environmental contamination.