Caesium-137 accumulation by halophytes at a radionuclide contaminated site

Phytoremediation, has been used for cleanup of low-level contaminants, exhibits a great potential in remediation of large-scale radionuclide contamination. An investigation on radionuclide accumulation by native halophytes and its influencing factors, plant variety and parts, soil K content and profile contribution of radionuclide, was carded out for the feasibility of radionuclide phytoremediation at a radionuclide contamination site, in China. The results showed that BC (bioaccumulation coefficient) value of m Cs by halophytes ranged from 10-5-10-2, BC value in most regions declined with inhomogeneous distribution of 137Cs and enhanced with the homogenous distribution. Significant negative correlation was existed between K concentration and BC value. (authors)