TRANSFER OF RADIONUCLIDES TO CROPS IN AN AREA OF LAND RECLAIMED FROM THE SEA

An area of reclaimed land on the Lancashire coast of the UK has been u sed to provide data on transfer parameters in foodchains when the acti vity is almost entirely of marine origin. This paper summarises the re sults of a study Of the transfer of Cs-137, Sr-90, Pu-239,Pu-240, Am-2 41 and Tc-99 to several groups of crops, including green vegetables, p otatoes and cereals. For sone of these radionuclides, the work adds si gnificantly to the data that are presently available. In many cases, t he observed transfer factors were generally close to or slightly lower than values derived from the application of radionuclides to soil in a soluble form. The use of the current default values in the NRPB mode l FARMLAND for radiological assessments of the introduction of activit y of marine origin into the terrestrial environment would not be undul y cautious.