title: Transfer of elements relevant to radioactive waste from soil to five boreal plant species.
abstract: In long-term safety assessment models for radioactive waste disposal, uptake of radionuclides by plants is an important process with possible adverse effects in ecosystems. Cobalt-60, (59,63)Ni, (93)Mo, and (210)Pb are examples of long-living radionuclides present in nuclear waste. The soil-to-plant transfer of stable cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and lead and their distribution across plant parts were investigated in blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), May lily (Maianthemum bifolium), narrow buckler fern (Dryopteris carthusiana), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) at two boreal forest sites in Eastern Finland. The concentrations of all of the studied elements were higher in roots than in above-ground plant parts showing that different concentration ratios (CR values) are needed for modelling the transfer to roots and stems/leaves. Some significant differences in CR values were found in comparisons of different plant species and of the same species grown at different sites. However, large within-species variation suggests that it is not justified to use different CR values for modelling soil-to-plant transfer of these elements in the different boreal forest plant species.
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental Science, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. paivi.roivainen@uef.fi
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roivainen
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makkonen
authors.forename: Toini
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holopainen
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juutilainen
mesh_terms: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000378:metabolism*; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive