Behaviour of chlorine 36 in cultivated terrestrial ecosystems

¹ Institute of Protection and Nuclear Safety, DPRE/SERLAB, Laboratory of Experimental Radioecology, Cadarache, bâtiment 180, BP. 1, 13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance cedex, France
² Laboratoire de Chimie de l'Environnement, Université d'Aix-Marseille I, France
³ Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology, UIAR, Kiev, Ukraine

Abstract

The retention of chlorine 36 by soils is studied. Batch investigations are performed to determine distribution coefficient values for various types of soils with physico-chemical properties covering a wide range of pH, organic matter and sesquioxydes content. The soil /soil solution distribution coefficient values are very weak and seem to be mainly conditioned by the organic carbon and the sesquioxydes content of the soil. Root uptake of chlorine 36 in some vegetables is also determined for root-vegetable (radish), a leafy-vegetable (lettuce) and a fruit-vegetable (bean) are experimented. Cultures are made on three types of soil with contrasted properties : "acidic", "calcareous" and "organic". The values of the soil/plant concentration ratios expressed with regard to the dry weight of vegetables are very high ; they vary between 18 and 377 according to the organ of the plant and the soil type. The strongest ³⁶Cl root uptake value is obtained with the calcareous soil and the lowest one on the organic one.