Transfer Of 210Pb Research Articles

Transfer of 210Pb and 210Po to plants via root system and above-ground interception

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of atmospheric deposition of 210Pb and 210Po on their transfer to plants used as food (potatoes, vegetables, cereals) and as fodder (grass, alfalfa). Two types of soil on an open field and on a field sheltered by a polyethylene tent were used. 210Pb and 210Po were determined in the total deposition, soils and plants. In the above-ground parts of the plants grown on the open field the activity concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po were higher than those for the plants grown in the tent, whereas in the roots they were nearly the same. Different concentrations of the radionuclides in the above-ground parts, despite the similar concentrations in roots, suggest that the transfer of the radionuclides via the root system is rather negligible. The data obtained indicate that atmospheric deposition is the main source of 210Pb and 210Po in the above-ground parts of the plants. It is suggested that the incorporation of the radionuclides occurs mainly from the wet deposition.

Transfer of210Pb and210Po to the environment during mining and processing of uranium ores

Transfer of210Pb and210Po from an uranium mine and mill to the environment was studied by measuring their concentrations in different stages of uranium extraction technology, in waste products from the mill and in environmental waters. A slightly modified radiochemical method was used for210Po and210Pb determination.

The association of 210Pb with constituents of erythrocytes.

The interaction of 210Pb of high specific activity with constituents of blood was investigated. In vivo experiments using 210Pb were performed in beagles and in vitro studies were done with human and canine whole blood and isolated blood cells. About 90 % of the nuclide found with red cells was associated with cytoplasm and less than 10 % was bound to the stroma. Transfer of 210Pb across the red cell membrane did not require the presence of plasma proteins. Gel electrophoresis of red cell cytoplasm showed that most of the 210Pb was present in the fractions that also contained hemoglobin. In the dog varying amounts were also found in fractions that had electrophoretic mobilities greater than hemoglobin. The HbA2 (alpha2delta2) component of fresh human hemoglobin had a much higher affinity for 210Pb than the main HbA (alpha2beta2) fraction. When stable lead was added to the 210Pb, the HbA2 component was saturated, and a larger fraction of the lead was found with the main hemoglobin, HbA. Small amounts of 210Pb were also found with erythrocuprein.