Vegetable-to-soil Concentration Ratio (CR) for ~(226)Ra in a highly radioactive region

摘要

Radium-226 is one of the main natural radionuclides, which is present in the environmental samples such as soil, water, food, etc. In order to assess the transfers and uptakes of ~(226)Ra, the vegetable-to-soil concentration ratio (CR) has been studied in a highly radioactive region of Ramsar. This area is of special interest in the world, due to the presence of several hot springs with high ~(226)Ra concentrations. Concentrations of ~(226)Ra were measured in different types of vegetables and substrate samples, using gamma spectrometry. The results show that the average vegetable-to-soil CR value in leafy vegetables (1.5 × 10~(-2)) is more than root vegetables (4 × 10~(-3)). In fact, uptake of ~(226)Ra via roots of vegetables is directed toward the leaves. In addition, the CR values measured in edible vegetables in a highly radioactive region of Ramsar are similar to those values in low background radiation areas.