Some characteristics of 226Ra transfer from soil and uranium mill tailings to plants

A study on the migration characteristics of 226Ra from soil and uranium mill tailings to edible and wild plants was carried out. Concentration of 226Ra in plants and soil was measured. The transfer ratio (TR) showed wide variation (0.1 x 10-2 to 40 x 10-2) in different species, while a few species of wild plants such as Echinops echinatus indicated preferential uptake of radium. Controlled experiments carried out by growing edible plants on soil and uranium tailings also indicated variation in TR when calculated on the basis of total radium, while reasonably consistent TRs (1.6 x 10-2 to 4.2 x 10-2) were obtained when calculated on the basis of available radium in soil/tailings. 226Ra accumulation in fruit was two orders of magnitude less than that in root and leaves of edible plants. (Author)