title: Traces of DU in samples of environmental bio-monitors (non-flowering plants, fungi) and soil from target sites of the Western Balkan region.
abstract: This paper reports results of gamma and alpha spectrometric measurements for mosses, lichens, fungi and soil samples from areas in the Balkans targeted by depleted uranium (DU). Samples were collected in 2002 and 2003 in the vicinity of several villages, principally Han Pijesak (Bosnia and Herzegovina, hit by DU in 1995) and Bratoselce (South Serbia, hit by DU in 1999) and in lesser numbers from Gornja Stubla, Kosovo (which is identified as a high natural radon/thoron area) and Presevo close to the Kosovo border. In the course of gamma spectrometric measurements some results suggested samples with unusual high uranium contents which might be considered to be a signature for the presence of DU, although many samples had very high detection limits. Alpha spectrometric measurements directly proved the presence of DU for five samples, all from directly targeted places. These were samples of mosses, lichens and soil. For some samples homogeneity tests were applied which showed a rather even distribution of DU in these samples. No trace of DU was found in any sample from a dwelling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca, Mike Petrovića Alasa 12-14, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Zora S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Zunić
authors.forename: Jerzy W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Mietelski
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Błazej
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaca
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomankiewicz
authors.forename: Predrag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ujić
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Celiković
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cuknić
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demajo
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis*; D015022:Yugoslavia
chemical_list: D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D014501:Uranium