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Lichens and mosses as polonium and uranium biomonitors on Sobieszewo Island
Alicja Boryło1, Grzegorz Romańczyk1, Bogdan Skwarzec1
1Department of Analytical and Environment Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
Abstract:
In the study the activities of polonium 210Po and uranium 234U, 238U radionuclides in moss and lichen samples were determined using the alpha spectrometry. Different lichens and mosses were collected around the Sobieszewo Island (northern Poland) and investigated for potential use as biomonitors for 210Po and 238U deposition. Mosses and lichens have a high efficiency in capturing 210Po and 238U from atmospheric fallout. The obtained results showed that 210Po, 238U concentrations are changing in analyzed thallophytes samples depending on the type of thallus.

