Abstract
The radioactivity of environmental samples from nuclear reactor sites must be analyzed before the public is given free access to the plants grown in these soils. Plant and corresponding soil samples were collected from a sample site around the Savar research reactor near Dhaka (Bangladesh) and the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides <sup>226</sup>Ra (<sup>238</sup>U-chain), <sup>228</sup>Ra (<sup>232</sup>Th-chain) and non-chained <sup>40</sup>K were measured using gamma ray spectrometry. Soils of Savar contained more radioactive <sup>40</sup>K than <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>228</sup>Ra. The influence of certain soil properties on the activity concentrations and transfer factors (TF) of natural radionuclides were investigated by correlating the observed data with those of soil properties. The activity concentrations of <sup>40</sup>K were much higher than those of <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>228</sup>Ra in plants due to higher uptake from soils. The transfer factors for <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>228</sup>Ra and <sup>40</sup>K were found to range from 0.04 to 0.10, 0.12 to 0.32, and 0.24 to 0.72, respectively. The soil to plant transfer factors for <sup>40</sup>K was found to be much higher in plants, which might be due to this element being vital in plants. This study showed that activity concentrations of these radionuclides in plants and their plant transfer factors seem to depend on the activity concentrations of the same radionuclides in soil.</p><p><strong> </strong>
Highlights
Soil-plant-man is recognized as a major pathway for the transfer of radionuclides to human beings (IAEA 1982)
The radioactivity of environmental samples from sites and products suspected of contamination must be investigated before free access to them is given to the public (Owono 2010)
The soil -to-plant transfer factor (TF) is regarded as one of the most important parameters in environmental safety assessment for nuclear facilities (IAEA 1994). This TF is essential for environmental transfer models, which are useful in the prediction of radionuclide concentration in agricultural crops for estimating dose impact to human being (Chakraborty et al 2013)
Summary
Soil-plant-man is recognized as a major pathway for the transfer of radionuclides to human beings (IAEA 1982). The radioactivity of environmental samples from sites and products suspected of contamination must be investigated before free access to them is given to the public (Owono 2010) Both routine and accidental release of nuclear waste can result in radionuclides moving into the environment and ground. The soil -to-plant TF is regarded as one of the most important parameters in environmental safety assessment for nuclear facilities (IAEA 1994). This TF is essential for environmental transfer models, which are useful in the prediction of radionuclide concentration in agricultural crops for estimating dose impact to human being (Chakraborty et al 2013). Maintaining reference-data records will assist in ascertaining possible changes in environmental radioactivity due to nuclear, industrial, and other human activities
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