Development of Models for the Transfer of exp 137 Cs and exp 90 Sr in the Pasture-Cow-Milk Pathway Using Fallout Data

摘要

Records of the measurements of fallout in the UK between the years 1958-77 have been used to develop versions of a general model for transfer in the pasture-cow-milk pathway for the radionuclides exp 137 Cs and exp 90 Sr. The revised models take account of the experimentally observed processes of fixation of caesium in soils and the plant base absorption of strontium. They predict, with reasonable accuracy, the variation of activity levels in milk over the period for which records exist. The form of the models permits examination of the relative contributions of the most important transfer mechanisms and their time dependence in the soil-plant system. The study has indicated an upper limit for the resuspension factor in UK rural environments. (Atomindex citation 12:595718)