title: Measurements on retention and transfer characteristics of radiocaesium from poor quality upland soils to heather and from heather to sheep.
abstract: This paper presents results from initial measurements of Cs-134, Cs-137 and K-40 activities made on poor quality upland soils and associated Calluna vulgaris vegetation. Soil-plant radiocaesium and potassium relationships were investigated. Chernobyl caesium shows a higher concentration ratio from soil to heather compared to the older weapons-test caesium. Significant radiocaesium levels have been measured (both in vivo and in vitro) in sheep grazing four sites. There was a significant correlation found between radiocaesium concentrations in sheep and activity deposited in the soil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: McAulay
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Colgan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive; D007494:Ireland; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D010944:Plants / Q000032:analysis*; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D012756:Sheep; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D014455:Ukraine
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive