Critical pathways of radionuclides to man from agro-ecosystems. Annual progress report Oct 80-Sep 81

The research describes the fate and behavior in the environment of radionuclides from nuclear fuel reprocessing. Greenhouse radionuclide uptake studies which examined factors possibly altering phyto-availability of radionuclides show only slight differences among crop species or soil treatments (lime or lime plus chelate) in Pu or Cm uptake. Field grown broadleaf crops grown have differing Pu concentrations associated with plant morphology, with some species exceeding the concentrations observed in wheat and soybean crops. Uranium contamination of a wheat crop grown near the separations facility appears to be strongly affected by root uptake. This is in contrast to the behavior of Pu where surficial pathways are the dominant modes of contamination, and is probably related to (1) the ubiquitous presence of naturally occurring U isotopes and (2) a greater concentration ratio for U than for Pu