Soil-radionuclides interaction and subsequent impact on the contamination of plant food products based on a simulated accidental source

François Bréchignac, Yves Thiry, Nadia Waegeneers, Ramon Vallejo, Teresa Sauras-Yera, Jaume Casadesus, George Shaw, Joanna Marchant, Sverker Forsberg, Chantal Madoz-Escande, Claude Colle

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    The Chernobyl accident, which resulted in a substantial release of radioactive materials in the atmosphere, demonstrated that large environmental areas may be contaminated by fall-out deposition of radioactivity. In particular, contamination by 137Cs and 90Sr of agroecosystems where food production is taking place is most liable to contribute to population radiation dose (Strand et al., 1996). Nuclear safety analysis shows that the possibility, although very
    small, of an accident occurring on a pressurized water reactor (PWR) cannot be completely ruled out. In such a situation, decision-making and management of the contaminated agricultural surfaces largely depends on our ability to predict how, and to which extent, the initial contamination may cause foodstuffs to be polluted.
    Furthermore, the efficiency of the prediction models relies on our level of understanding of the mechanisms governing the transfer of radionuclides in the soil-plant system.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEnviromnental changes and Radioactive tracers
    Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the SPERA 2000 Conference
    Place of PublicationParis
    Pages397-419
    Number of pages23
    EditionIRD Editions
    StatePublished - 2002
    Event2000 - SPERA Conference - Nouméa
    Duration: 19 Jun 200023 Jun 2000

    Conference

    Conference2000 - SPERA Conference
    Country/TerritoryNew Caledonia
    CityNouméa
    Period2000-06-192000-06-23

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