Use of single and sequential chemical extractants to assess radionuclide and heavy metal availability from soils for root uptake

To predict the persistence and potential mobility of radionuclide and heavy metal contamination in soils it is necessary to devise a robust chemical or biological method to quantify the fraction of soil contamination available for root uptake. Such information is important for predictive models and environmental assessments where the soil-plant pathway is a key contributor to potentially harmful effects to plants and animals, e.g., estimates of pollutant concentrations likely to interfere with normal plant growth and of potential radionuclide dose-to-man. Single and sequential extraction methods have been used for this purpose. This review discusses their application in radioecological and pollutant studies, and considers problems in interpretation of data produced. (author)