Uptake of radionuclides by plants growing on radionuclide enriched organic soil in a high arctic desert

Although often considered as a region exhibiting low levels of radionuclide contamination, localised areas in the High Arctic exhibiting elevated levels of natural and anthropogenic have been reported in the past. This enrichment occurs despite the limited availability of liquid water and climatic conditions that would be expected to restrict radionuclide mobility in the terrestrial environment. Implications of such radionuclide enrichment on the radionuclide burden of vegetative biota associated with these areas have not been studied in the past. The objective of the reported study was to investigate how transfer of radionuclides from soil to plant may differ at such an enriched location from transfer patterns exhibited in the general area. The study site was located at a latitude of 79 deg. N and was comprised of a localised area of organic soil where observed soil radionuclide levels (U series, 137Cs and Pu isotopes) were greater than those in the surrounding area by an order of magnitude. Transfer factors for a number of High Arctic plant species were calculated and appraised with respect to both the radiological and chemical conditions at the site and with respect to species specific factors. Finally, radiological implications for local herbivorous biota due to consumption of vegetation from such an enriched location are presented. (author)