Abstract |
The report summarizes information from the literature concerning parameters which can be used to estimate the transport of transuranic elements through plants to man. Plant uptake results from root uptake and deposition of contamination on above-ground surface areas of the plant. Deposition on plant surfaces occurs from both the initial contamination cloud and resuspension of contaminated soil. Generally, a deposition interceptor factor (pCi on vegetation per unit area subtended by the vegetation, per pCi per unit area of ground) of about 0.2 is indicated. A weathering half-life of about 30 days for time periods of about a week after deposition is suggested. Plant uptake parameters generally range from 0.000001 to 0.001; however, some data has been extrapolated to estimate a long-term uptake (20 years) of 0.3. |