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Plutonium and americium concentrations and vertical profiles in some Italian mosses used as bioindicators

  • Actinides in Biological and Environmental Systems
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Abstract

We have examined the uptake of actinide elements Am and, Pu by different species of lichen and moss collected in two locations (Urbino, Central Italy; Alps region, North-east Italy). Plutonium and americium were separated and determined by extraction chromatography, electrodeposition and alpha-spectrometry. This paper summarizes our results with a special emphasis on the vertical profiles of these actinides in two different species of mosses. Several 1–2 cm depth sections were obtained and dated by210Pb method. A typical peak for239,240Pu and241Am was found in the very old moss species (“Sphagnum Compactum”) at a depth corresponding to the period 1960–1970 which was the period characterized by the maximum nuclear weapon tests. In a younger moss species (“Neckeria Crispa”) no peak was observed and the regression curves showed that Am is more mobile than239,240Pu and238Pu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urbino University, Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029, Urbino, Italy

    C. Testa, D. Desideri, M. A. Meli & F. Guerra

  2. ICTIMA CNR, Padua, Italy

    S. Degetto

  3. Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing, P. R. China

    G. Jia

  4. Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy

    R. Gerdol

Authors
  1. C. Testa
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  2. S. Degetto
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  3. G. Jia
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  4. R. Gerdol
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  5. D. Desideri
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  6. M. A. Meli
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  7. F. Guerra
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Testa, C., Degetto, S., Jia, G. et al. Plutonium and americium concentrations and vertical profiles in some Italian mosses used as bioindicators. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 234, 273–276 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02389784

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02389784

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