Simulating the Transfer of Strontium-90 from Soil to Leafy Vegetables by Using Strontium-88.
The transfer, from soil to Chinese cabbage and spinach, of radioactive strontium-90 released as a result of accidents in nuclear power stations was studied using a stable isotope of strontium, namely nuclide strontium-88 (88Sr). The study led to an experimental model for assessing the hazard of radionuclide strontium-90 (90Sr) entering the food chain and for predicting the risk to food safety. Chinese cabbage and spinach were grown in pots in a greenhouse and irrigated with deionized water containing known quantities of strontium. Based on the strontium content of that water, the plants were divided into five groups (treatments) and strontium content of the soil, and 30-day-old plants were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy instrument (ICP-AES). Data on the strontium content of soil and plants enabled the development of a model using MATLAB, a mathematical software package, which included curve fitting and problem solving using regression equations and differential equations. Although strontium curves for leaves, stems, and roots of Chinese cabbage were not exactly the same, all showed a non-linear increase when compared with the increase in the content of strontium in soil. Strontium curves for leaves, stems, and roots of spinach were very similar and showed an initial increase followed by a decrease. Strontium concentrations in both Chinese cabbage and spinach were initially related to the concentrations of sodium and sulfur, the next two relevant nuclides being calcium and magnesium. The relationship between calcium and strontium in Chinese cabbage was different from that in spinach. By using88Sr to simulate the transfer of radionuclide90Sr from soil to a crop, the relevant data required to deal with accidental release of strontium can be obtained using a fitting curve and regression equations, thereby providing some experimental basis for evaluating the potential hazards posed by such accidents to the food chain.
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
Ding
D
Kuke
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
Liu
L
Shujuan
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
He
H
Yingxue
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
Yan
Y
Dong
College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China.
Zhang
Z
Fengshou
Analytical and Testing Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China.
Wang
W
Shuifeng
Analytical and Testing Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875 China.
Guo
G
Jinghua
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
Zhang
Z
Wei
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
Wang
W
Xin
Department of Radiology, National Institue for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China ; Key Laboratory of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Emergency, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100088 China.
Jiang
J
Xiaoyan
88Sr; 90Sr; Chinese cabbage; Fitting curve; Spinach