THE EFFECT OF HEATHER BURNING ON THE TRANSFER OF RADIOCESIUM TO SMOKEAND THE SOLUBILITY OF RADIOCESIUM ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEATHER ASH

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) dominates large tracts of the United Kingdo m and fire is used as a management tool to encourage new growth. Heath er contaminated with radiocaesium from the Chernobyl accident was burn t under controlled conditions giving a 'hot' (660 degrees C) and 'cool ' (550 degrees C) fire. Losses of up to 40% of the radiocaesium activi ty were recorded in the smoke and subsequent leaching experiments, usi ng artificial rainwater, demonstrated that a further 20% of the activi ty could be mobilised in a short period. The implications of using hea ther burning as a management tool are considered.