Abstract
Soil from the Campania region of southern Italy was sampled for gammaradioactivity content during May and October 1986 and the radioactive fallout distribution from the Chernobyl accident was then mapped. For 137Cs and 103Ru, total fallout depositions on the region, of 11·0 × 10 13 and 16·1 × 10 13 Bq respectively, were found, corresponding to 8·1 and 11·9 kBq/m 2. Comparison of 137Cs distributions from successive sampling periods indicates downwards penetration of caesium in the soil profile. Samples of vegetables and fruit were collected in June and October 1986. Those already ripe by May showed high concentrations of radionuclides (up to 1500 Bq/kg for 137Cs) whereas, in those harvested in September, contamination was lower by a factor of about 10 (200 Bq/kg). The mean transfer factor of caesium from soil to crops was 0·0086. Hazelnut samples showed much enhanced 137Cs levels relative to the mean, even in 1987 after a second maturation cycle. This anomalous behaviour can be attributed to the predominance of nuclide absorption by the leaves of the tree.
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