Transfer of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th from soil to plant in a high background radiation area of the southwestern region of Cameroon

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2013 Dec;157(2):298-302. doi: 10.1093/rpd/nct141. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

In order to estimate the soil-to-plant transfer factors (TFs) of some natural radionuclides, the activity of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th was measured in the soil and in agricultural crop samples collected from identified high background radiation areas in the southwestern region of Cameroon. The results showed that the ²³⁸U and ²³²Th TFs values were in the ranges 1.0×10⁻²-12.2×10⁻¹ kg kg⁻¹ and 5.0×10⁻²-9.7×10⁻¹ kg kg⁻¹, respectively. These computed TFs values were found to be globally higher than those proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Background Radiation*
  • Cameroon
  • Crops, Agricultural / radiation effects*
  • Humans
  • Plants / radiation effects*
  • Radiation Monitoring*
  • Radium / analysis*
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis*
  • Uranium / analysis*

Substances

  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Uranium
  • Radium