Chapter 5: Cesium-137 Accumulation in Crops in the Fourth Decade After Chernobyl: An In-depth Analysis
In the decades since the Chernobyl NPP accident, 137Cs has remained the primary radionuclide contributing to radiation exposure. Contaminated food is one of the primary sources of exposure for humans. Therefore, restricting the entry of this radioisotope into crops is a key measure of radiation protection for the population.
The behavior of 137Cs in the soil–plant system changes over time due to redistribution between forms with varying degrees of biological availability and vertical migration, the effects of protective measures, and other factors. The “aging” of radioactive cesium in the soil leads to changes in the contributions of various factors affecting its accumulation in crops. Identifying patterns of 137Cs accumulation at later stages of the Chernobyl catastrophe is essential for optimizing radiation protection measures during the transition to the existing exposure situation.
This study is based on the analysis of a dataset pertaining to 137Cs transfer to crops during the years 2019–2020. The results of the study show a nonlinear relationship between the aggregated transfer factor of 137Cs and the concentration of K+ in soil solution, soil moisture in the growing season, and the percentage of the ion-exchangeable form of the radionuclide. Furthermore, the contribution of transfoliar uptake of the radionuclide from atmospheric fallout in later stages of the Chernobyl catastrophe is identified in fields with a low level of contamination density.
