Analysis of radionuclide transfer factor from soil to plant in tropical and subtropical environments

VELASCO, R. H.; JURI AYUB, J.; SANSONE, U.

APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES

Elsevier

Año: 2008 p. 1759 - 1763

0969-8043

In this study, more than 2700 radionuclide soil-to-plant transfer factors obtained for tropical and subtropical environments were statistically analyzed, and the influence of key parameters on different plant and soil combinations were investigated. Four broad soil groups  and 13 plant groups were separately investigated. Additionally, different plant compartments were distinguished. The wide variability and uncertainty observed in transfer factors (TF) is considerably reduced when data are independently grouped into clusters of plant/plant part/soil type combinations. For each cluster statistical quantities were determined, and TF probability distribution was examined to improve the use of this empirical parameter in radiological assessment models. In many cases it was found that lognormal probability distribution reasonably represents the data. Although a wide TF variability was found for all radionuclides, when different plant/plant part/soil combinations were considered TF variability was found to be markedly lower.  In most plant groups Zn and Sr present the highest transfer values. TF for Cs is lower and minimal transfer was found for Ra, U and Pb.