SEQUENTIAL EXTRACTION AS A TOOL TO STUDY THE FOLIAR UPTAKE OF RADIONUCLIDES

In order to study the foliar uptake of radionuclides deposited from an aerosol released in an accidental situation, lettuce plants were cont aminated with an aerosol containing Sr-85, Cs-134 and Ag-110m isotopes . The methodology chosen to carry out this study is based on a sequent ial extraction scheme using water, to evaluate the fraction possibly r emoved by rain or by washing, and an organic solvent, to distinguish b etween the fraction adhering to the cuticle and the one incorporated i n the leaves. Two procedures are compared. Moreover, the different beh avior of the radionuclides in their incorporation into the leaves is d educed from the results obtained.