Cs-137, Cs-134 and Sr-90 in the coastal Syrian mountains after the Chernobyl accident

The activity concentrations of Cs-137, Cs-134 and Sr-90 were determined in surface soil samples from several sites in the coastal mountains in Syria. These radionuclides were also determined in some plant samples of Lycopodiu m cernuum L. growing on trees on these sites. The activity concentrations o f the radionuclides in the soils at the top of the mountains were higher th an those on the slopes. At one of the sites, the activity concentrations of Cs-137, Cs-134 and Sr-90 were 4933, 139 and 194 Bq/kg dry weight, respecti vely, the Cs-137 concentration corresponding to about 400 times that on the slope. The difference in the activity concentrations between the tops and the slopes of the mountains could be attributed to the direct contact betwe en the Chernobyl radioactive clouds and the tops of these mountains. The ac tivity concentrations of these radionuclides in some Lycopodium cernuum L. plant samples were 4535, 114 and 133 Bq/kg dry weight, respectively. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.