Vertical distribution and inventories of 137Cs in the Syrian soils of the eastern Mediterranean region

Abstract

Vertical distribution and inventories of 137Cs have been determined using radiocesium distributions in presumably undistributed soil profiles, collected from 36 sites distributed all over Syria (eastern Mediterranean region). Vertical distributions of 137Cs in the collected profiles were found to be strongly correlated with soil type and five groups were identified. Based on these profiles, total 137Cs inventory (bomb test and Chernobyl) varied between 320 Bq m −2 and 9647 Bq m −2. Geographical mapping of 137Cs inventories showed that the highest values were found in the coastal, middle and north-east regions of Syria indicating that Chernobyl atmospheric contribution to the total 137Cs deposition in the region is predominant. In contrast, the lowest values were found in the south-east region (Syrian Badia), where a relatively uniform distribution was observed, which may only be attributed to the past global nuclear bomb test. The measured inventories were also compared with a mathematical model for estimating bomb derived 137Cs reference inventories.