학술논문
Leaves of higher plants as biomonitors of radionuclides (137 Cs, 40 K, 210 Pb and 7 Be) in urban air
Document Type
Original Paper
Source
Environmental Science and Pollution Research. January 2013 20(1):525-532
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0944-1344
1614-7499
1614-7499
Abstract
Leaves of linden (Tilia tomentosa L. and Tilia cordata Mill.) and horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) were analysed as biomonitors of radionuclides in urban air. Samples of soils, leaves and aerosols were collected in Belgrade, Serbia. Activities of 137 Cs, 40 K, 210 Pb and 7 Be in the samples were measured on an HPGe detector by standard gamma spectrometry. “Soil-to-leaves” transfer factors were calculated. Student’s t test and linear Pearson correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis. Differences in local conditions at the sampling sites were not significant, and the mechanisms of the radionuclides’ accumulation in both plant species are similar. Ceasium-137 was detected in some of the leaf samples only. Transfer factors for 137 Cs and 40 K were (0.03–0.08) and 1.3, respectively. The concentrations of 210 Pb and 7 Be in leaves were higher in autumn than in spring, and there were some similarities in their seasonal patterns in leaves and in air. Weak to medium correlation was obtained for the 210 Pb and 7 Be activities in leaves and aerosols. Large positive correlation was obtained for the 210 Pb activities in linden leaves and the mean activity in aerosols for the preceding months. Different primary modes of radionuclides accumulation in leaves were observed. Since large positive correlation was obtained for the 210 Pb activity in linden leaves and the mean in aerosols for the preceding months, mature linden leaves could be used as biomonitors of recent 210 Pb activity in air.