title: 226Ra, 40K and 7Be activity concentrations in plants in the environment of Kaiga, India.
abstract: Leaves, stem and bark samples from several plant species were collected from tropical forest of Kaiga, in the west coast of India where two nuclear power reactors of 220 MW each have just been commissioned and another two are under construction, and analysed for their (226)Ra, (40)K and (7)Be concentrations. The activities of (226)Ra and (40)K in plants were found to vary in the range BDL-13.2 and 12.0-797.3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Plants show significant (7)Be activity in leaves, the activity varies in 72.5-1,060.8 Bq kg(-1). Stem and bark of plants show higher levels of (226)Ra and (40)K when compared to leaves. Soil-to-plant transfer factor for (226)Ra and (40)K were found to vary in the range BDL-0.37 and 0.09-5.61, respectively for different plants. The concentration of (226)Ra and (40)K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves.
authors.affiliation: University Science Instrumentation Centre, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri-574 199, Mangalore, India. karunakana_n@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karunakara
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Somashekarappa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Narayana
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Avadhani
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mahesh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siddappa
mesh_terms: D001608:Beryllium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007194:India; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010944:Plants; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014197:Trees; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011868:Radioisotopes; D001608:Beryllium; D011883:Radium