UPTAKE OF CESIUM-137 BY CROPS FROM CONTAMINATED SOILS

The Turkish tea crop was contaminated following the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Finding ways to dispose of the contaminated tea (Camellia sinensis L.) without damaging the environment was the goal of this research conducted at the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEA). In this study, an investigation was made of Cs-137 activities of the plants and the ratios of transfer of Cs-137 activity to plants when the contaminated tea was applied to the soil. Experiments were conducted in the field and in pots under greenhouse conditions. The activities of the tea applied in the field ranged from 12 500 to 72 800 Bq/m(2), whereas this activity was constant at 8000 Bq/pot in the greenhouse experiment. The transfer of Cs-137 from soil to the plants was between 0.037 and 1.057% for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), corn (Zea mays indentata Start), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and grass (Lolium perenne L.). The ratio of the transfer of Cs-137 activity to plants increased as the activity Cs-137 in tea applied to soil was increased. The activity in the plants increased due to increased uptake of Cs-137 by plants.