The bio-availability of long-lived radionuclides in relation to their physico-chemical form in soil systems

Objective

The project concentrates on the processes governing the availability to biota of long-lived radionuclides present in soil. An analysis of the distribution of radionuclides between solid and liquid phase and of their accumulation from the liquid phase by biota is of special interest to predict the leaching of radionuclides from the soil as time passes by and to interpret effects of remedial measures against transfer into the foodchain.

In this project the availability of radionuclides is studied in artificial as well as in natural systems at different levels of organization. The study includes the chemical characterization of binding properties of the soil, the determination of distribution functions and the description of the uptake and release processes by different organisms plants, microorganisms and soil invertebrates). Integration of the results and a mathematical description of the processes studied are part of the project. Most of the subprojects have been carried out with the radionuclides caesium-134/caesium-137 and strontium-90. A variety of techniques quantify and interpret the solid-liquid distribution and a number of practical advises have been proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of countermeasures.
The participating institutes will study the relation between chemical speciation of radionuclides in soil systems and their bioavailability. The parameters which mainly determine the relation between the compartments soil and plant will be investigated for a number of elements, caesium and strontium being the most important ones. The aspects which determine solid/ liquid distribution and the aspects which affect uptake and accumulation by the plant will be studied separately and in combination, under controlled conditions. These data will be evaluated against available field observations and data collected during the forthcoming growing season. The final goal will be a generalized description of the relationship between the solid phase, the liquid phase and biota.
The results will benefit in judging the sensitivity of soils with respect to a potential contamination and the effectiveness of soil treatments and crop selection to inhibit contamination of the foodchain.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › chemical sciences › inorganic chemistry › alkaline earth metals
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture
• natural sciences › biological sciences › microbiology
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › nuclear chemistry › radiation chemistry
• natural sciences › biological sciences › zoology › invertebrate zoology

Programme(s)

• FP3-NFS 1 - Research and education programme (Euratom) in the field of nuclear fission safety, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Address

9,antonie Van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9
3720 BA Bilthoven
Netherlands

Participants (5)

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE

France

Address

Rue Notre Dame Des Pauvres 17
54501 Vandoeuvre-les-nancy

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE

France

Address

Place Pierre Viala 2
34060 Montpellier

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN

Belgium

Address

92,kardinaal Mercierlaan 92
3001 Heverlee

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN

Belgium

Address

42,kardinaal Mercierlaan 92
3001 Heverlee

NATIONAL RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION BOARD

United Kingdom

Address

OX11 0RQ Didcot,harwell,chilton