EVALUATION OF SOIL RADIOACTIVITIES USING PEDOLOGICALLY BASED SAMPLINGTECHNIQUES

A new type of soil sampling protocol is suggested which has applicabil ity to surveys of environmental radioactivity. Often there is a higher concentration of radionuclides in the lower B horizon than in the upp er A horizon of well-drained, well developed soils. It is recommended that soils be sampled pedologically, i.e., by soil horizon, rather tha n incrementally in depth. An example is given from a site in northern Louisiana where surface and/or the classical 15 cm (''six-inch'') deep sampling could lead to erroneous conclusions regarding anthropogenic contamination.