title: Edaphic factors affecting the vertical distribution of radionuclides in the different soil types of Belgrade, Serbia.
abstract: The specific activities of natural radionuclides ((40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th) and Chernobyl-derived (137)Cs were measured in soil profiles representing typical soil types of Belgrade (Serbia): chernozems, fluvisols, humic gleysols, eutric cambisols, vertisols and gleyic fluvisols. The influence of soil properties and content of stable elements on radionuclide distribution down the soil profiles (at 5 cm intervals up to 50 cm depth) was analysed. Correlation analysis identified associations of (40)K, (226)Ra and (137)Cs with fine-grained soil fractions. Significant positive correlations were found between (137)Cs specific activity and both organic matter content and cation exchange capacity. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and specific electrical conductivity were also positively correlated with the specific activity of (137)Cs. The strong positive correlations between (226)Ra and (232)Th specific activities and Fe and Mn indicate an association with oxides of these elements in soil. The correlations observed between (40)K and Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn and also between (137)Cs and Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn could be attributed to their common affinity for clay minerals. These results provide insight into the main factors that affect radionuclide migration in the soil, which contributes to knowledge about radionuclide behaviour in the environment and factors governing their mobility within terrestrial ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Banatska 31b, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia. sdragovic@inep.co.rs
authors.forename: Snežana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dragović
authors.forename: Boško
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajić
authors.forename: Ranko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dragović
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janković-Mandić
authors.forename: Latinka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Slavković-Beškoski
authors.forename: Nevena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mihailović
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momčilović
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ćujić
mesh_terms: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D055771:Serbia; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium