ON THE MECHANISMS WHICH DETERMINE THE FATE OF RADIOCESIUM IN SOIL

The mechanism of radiocaesium adsorption on soil and soil constituents , in particular day minerals is reviewed. The importance of adsorption in determining the mobility and bioavailability of caesium in roils i s outlined. Same of the factors upon which adsorption depends are desc ribed in detail and attention drawn to the possible artifacts present when laboratory measurements are extrapolated to environmental conditi ons. The most important factors are caesium concentration, composition of the soil exchange complex, ionic strength and time. The influence of biological action on the nature and composition of soil, and hence in the affinity of soil surfaces for caesium is also discussed.