Calculation of transfer coefficients in root vegetables for Cesium-137

Subject Areas : environmental management

Effat Yahaghi ¹ (Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Imam Khomeini International University, Faculty of Science, Qazvin, Iran *(Corresponding Author).)
Najmeh Bahman Abadi ² (M.Sc. in Nuclear Physics, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University West Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.)

Received: 2014-06-17 Accepted : 2015-08-31 Published : 2017-09-23

Keywords: Cesium 137, Nuclear Accident, Transfer Coefficients, Compartmental Model,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Cesium-137 is one of the most important radioactive nuclides which are released into the environment during nuclear accidents. This metal remains in high layers of the soil and by the time diffuse to the lower depths of the soil and absorbed by plant roots and finally it will enter the human chain and effects directly on the human health. Therefore, the use of appropriate models for prediction of the Cs absorption in root vegetables can help on the human health. Method: In this study, transfer coefficients and Cs-137 uptake in the root vegetables is investigated by compartmental model. Data of Fukushima accident were used for the calculation of parameters in the plants. Data of Cs concentration in soil and in root of vegetables are as inputs. Findings: The result shows the calculated transfer coefficients for soil to root of vegetable is 0.031 for turnip and 0.039 for carrot, in the same order of reference 0.037 for the loam soil of agricultural and root vegetables. Discussion and Conclusion: The calculated transfer coefficients are in a very good consistency to the recommended NCRP. This result can be used for predicting the nuclear contamination in the nuclear accident.

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