Modification of natural radionuclide uptake by wheat using a NORM by-product as soil amendment

J G Muñoz-Muñoz; J Guillén; A Salas

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109458

Modification of natural radionuclide uptake by wheat using a NORM by-product as soil amendment

Appl Radiat Isot. 2021 Jan:167:109458. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109458. Epub 2020 Oct 4.

Authors

J G Muñoz-Muñoz¹, J Guillén², A Salas¹

Affiliations

¹ LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
² LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: fguillen@unex.es.

PMID: 33059190
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109458

Abstract

Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTPs) can be optimised for removal of natural radionuclides, thus meeting EU legislation. Removed radionuclides (^234,238U, ²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Po) go into sludges. What would happen if these sludges were used in agriculture? Wheat plantlets were cultivated in original and sludge-amended soils under laboratory controlled conditions. Soil-to plant transfer was significantly increased in factors ranging 1.2-3.7, 2.0-5.6, and 1.6-2.4 for ^234,238U, ²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Po, respectively. The additional input was preferentially accumulated in roots.

Keywords: NORM; Soil amendment; Transfer; Uranium; Wheat.

MeSH terms

Radioisotopes / metabolism*
Sewage
Soil / chemistry*
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / metabolism*
Triticum / growth & development
Triticum / metabolism*

Substances

Radioisotopes
Sewage
Soil
Soil Pollutants, Radioactive