Fallout 137Cs, Sr-90 and Pu239+240 in soils polluted by heavy metals: Vertical distribution, residence half-times, and external gamma-dose rates

The industrial pollution of an ecosystem, e.g., by heavy metals, might also affect the behavior of fallout radionuclides in the soils of these areas. To study such effects, we determined at various distances from the huge cop per-nickel smelters at Monchegorsk on the Kola Peninsula Russia) and at a r eference site: (1) the vertical distribution of fallout Cs-137, Sr-90 and P u239+240 in the soil, (2) the corresponding residence half-times in differe nt soil horizons, and (3) the resulting external gamma-dose rates at these sites in 1 m height due to Cs-137 in the soil. The data show that the resid ence half-times and the partitioning of the fallout radionuclides among the various soil horizons depend significantly on the extent of the heavy meta l pollution at the sites. The resulting external gamma-dose rate in 1 m hei ght due to Cs-137 in the soil is, however, rather similar at the various si tes.