Determination of cesium-137 soil-to-plant concentration ratios for vegetables in Goiania City, Brazil

The radiological accident that occurred in Goiania City, Brazil, in September 1987, led to the spreading of 137Cs in the urban area. Even after the decontamination procedure, there was a reminiscence of 137Cs activity in the soil of residential gardens. This activity was enough to conduct preliminary experiments for determination of soil to vegetable concentration ratios. Experiments were conducted for carrots, lettuce and radishes. Two types of experimental patterns were used to determine the concentration ratios: lysimeters cultivation under greenhouse condition and soil cultivation in open field plot. The concentration ratios measured for cultivation under greenhouse and field plot conditions are considerably higher than those mentioned in the International Union of Radioecologist (IUR) data bank for the same vegetables and cultivation condition. (author) 5 refs.; 2 figs.; 3 tabs