Distribution of radionuclides in forest soils of varying pedochemistry

Abstract

The distribution of radionuclides in soils has been investigated by low-level gamma spectrometry. Four forest sites of different soil types and local vegetation located in Saxony/Germany at Lausnitz, Colditz and two sections at Olbernhau were chosen. For each section thin-layer sampling was applied. The analysed radioisotopes included artificial, cosmogenic and natural nuclides. The radionuclide migration in the investigated soils was found to be governed by the chemical conditions of the layer.