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Environmental evaluation of elemental cesium and strontium contents and their isotopic activity concentrations in different soils of La Mancha (Central Spain)

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Cesium and Strontium concentrations were analyzed in eight pedogenetic soil profiles developed on different rocks from a semiarid mediterranean region: La Mancha (Central Spain). Concentration activities of 137Cs and 90Sr, as for some soil properties, were also measured. The results are presented in this document: Cs concentrations range between 0.4 and 18.3 mg kg−1 and Sr varies widely between 11.0 and 3,384 mg kg−1. Therefore, it is clear that there is a broad range of concentrations and there are also values significantly higher than the average values stated by several authors. Concentrations of long-life artificial radionuclides (137Cs, 90Sr) were determined in some of the same soils. The activity concentration mean values (Bq kg−1) were ranging between 0.82 and 21.76 for 137Cs and 90Sr variations range between 6.73 and 0.35. There were no significant correlations between radionuclides and stable trace elements. The data indicate that the soils do not show significant radioactivity of these elements and therefore they do not pose a danger. By the same token, no risk of contamination by this activity was detected. Finally, spatial patterns seem to be affected by the soil type and some soil properties.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been funded by a research fellowship of the Geological Survey of Spain (IGME).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Área Laboratorios, Unidad Geología y Geofísica, C/ La Calera 1. 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain

    P. Conde Bueno & J. A. Martín Rubí

  2. Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    R. Jiménez Ballesta

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  1. P. Conde Bueno
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  2. J. A. Martín Rubí
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  3. R. Jiménez Ballesta
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Correspondence to R. Jiménez Ballesta.

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Conde Bueno, P., Martín Rubí, J.A. & Jiménez Ballesta, R. Environmental evaluation of elemental cesium and strontium contents and their isotopic activity concentrations in different soils of La Mancha (Central Spain). Environ Geol 56, 327–334 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1168-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1168-x

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