Abstract
The measurements results of 137Cs activity concentrations in forest soil profiles are discussed. In studies some simplifications were considered. First of them concerns disregarding of soil subtype in data analysis. However initially this parameter was considered in data analysis, it was finally ignored. The second assumption drops information about specific soil horizon. Description of 137Cs accumulation is based on relationships between its relative activity concentrations in soil layers. The model formulation was based on the results of exploratory data analysis of the relative 137Cs activity concentrations. In studies the methods designed for compositional data analysis were used. The results of analysis showed that the relationships between the relative activity concentrations of 137Cs in soil layers, due to their nature, might be divided into two groups. The first of them concerns layers located close to soil surface. The relative activity concentrations of 137Cs in these layers are proportional to each other, and distribution mechanism of cesium within them has the characteristics of the process leading to thermodynamic equilibrium. The second group is related to layers that are located deeper. The calculation results suggest lack of thermodynamic equilibrium between these layers and layers situated above. Utilization of a linear model for description of changes in relative activity concentrations of 137Cs in deeper layers supposes that these changes occur much slower than in layers lying above.
Highlights
A large amount of different artificial radionuclides appeared in environment as a result of nuclear weapon tests, conducted especially frequently in the middle of the 20th century
In computations the data obtained in measurements of 137Cs activity concentrations in samples of genetic horizons of forest soil, which were collected in south-western Poland and in the Polish–Czech border region in the area of so called Opole Anomaly, were used
The 137Cs activity concentrations were related to the localization of sampling site and on the depth from which soil sample was taken
Summary
A large amount of different artificial radionuclides appeared in environment as a result of nuclear weapon tests, conducted especially frequently in the middle of the 20th century. Environment was contaminated as a result of a number of incidental, uncontrolled releases [1,2,3], like for example, accidents in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima Dai-Ichi (2011) nuclear power plants [4,5,6,7,8]. Within a period of days and weeks, radioactive dust or contaminated water was dispersed in long distances, reaching all or almost all continents [9,10,11,12]. Nuclear facilities used for nuclear fuel or weapon production can be a source of radioactive contamination, in their vicinity and in distant areas [13]. Improper maintenance or execution of procedures which disregards security measures may lead to uncontrolled penetration of dangerous radioactive materials into environment [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
