Radioactivity measurements in moss (Hypnum cupressiforme) and lichen (Cladonia rangiformis) samples collected from Marmara region of Turkey
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY, vol.101, no.11, pp.945-951, 2010 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 101 Issue: 11
- Publication Date: 2010
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.06.012
- Journal Name: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.945-951
- Keywords: Moss, Lichen, (137)Cs, Activity ratio, (40)K, ARTIFICIAL RADIOACTIVITY, NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES, CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT, HEAVY-METALS, CS-137, FALLOUT, RADIOCESIUM, CESIUM-137, DEPOSITION, ANATOLIA
- Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The present study was conducted to compare the (137)CS, (40)K, (232)Th, and (238)U activity concentrations in epigeic moss (Hypnum cupressiforme) and lichen (Cladonia rangiformis). The activity levels in 37 moss and 38 lichen samples collected from the Marmara region of Turkey were measured using a gamma spectrometer equipped with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The activity concentrations of (137)Cs, (40)K, (232)Th, and (238)U in the moss samples were found to be in the range of 0.36-8.13,17.1-181.1,1.51-6.17, and 0.87-6.70 Bq kg(-1) respectively, while these values were below detection limit (BDL)-4.32, 16.6-240.0, 1.32-6.47, and BDL-3.57 Bq kg(-1) respectively in lichen. The average moss/lichen activity ratios of (137)CS, (40)K, (232)Th, and (238)U were found to be 1.32 +/- 0.57, 2.79 +/- 1.67, 2.11 +/- 0.82, and 2.19 +/- 1.02, respectively. Very low (137)Cs concentrations were observed in moss and lichen samples compared to soil samples collected from the same locations in a previous study. Seasonal variations of the measured radionuclide activities were also examined in the three sampling stations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.