title: Transfer factors of natural radionuclides and (137)Cs from soil to plants used in traditional medicine in central Serbia.
abstract: Transfer factors of natural radionuclides and (137)Cs from soil to plants used in traditional medicine were determined. The transfer factors (TF) were calculated as Bq kg(-1) of dry plant per Bq kg(-1) of dry soil. Mass activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs in soil and plant samples were measured with high purity germanium detector (HPGe). The concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined, as well as the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the content of exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na). Wide ranges of values were obtained for all the metals, especially for Cr and Ni. The Absalom model was used for determination of the amount of (137)Cs transferred from soil to plant based on soil characteristics such as pH, exchangeable potassium, humus and clay contents. The estimated transfer factors were in the range from 0.011 to 0.307 with an arithmetic mean of 0.071, median of 0.050, geometric mean of 0.053 and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 2.08. This value agreed well with that calculated from the measurements of 0.069, geometric mean 0.040 and GSD 3.19. Correlations between radionuclides, metals, physicochemical properties and transfer factors were determined by Spearman correlation coefficient. There was a strong positive correlation between (137)Cs transfer factor and the ratio of transfer factor for K and (137)Cs. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed in order to identify some pattern of data.
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gorica
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Djelic
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia. Electronic address: dragana@kg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krstic
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stajic
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Milenkovic
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topuzovic
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragoslav
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikezic
authors.affiliation: Institute on Occupational Health Protection "NIŠ" Vojislav Ilić bb, Nis, 18000, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dusica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vucic
authors.affiliation: Institute of Field & Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Maksima Gorkog 30, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tijana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeremski
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.affiliation: University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, R. Domanovic 12, 34000, Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kostic
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D055771:Serbia; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes; D008670:Metals; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: (137)Cs; Absalom model; Mass activity concentration; Medical plants; PCA; Soil