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Transfer of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides to ants, bryophytes and lichen in a semi-natural ecosystem

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Abstract

Few data are available to quantify the transfer of both natural and anthropogenic radionuclides to detritivorous invertebrates to facilitate estimation of the internal dose to such biota in models used to assess radiation exposure. To enhance the available data, activity concentrations of 137Cs, 40K, 90Sr, 239 + 240Pu, 241Am, 235U and 238U were measured in ants (Formicidae) and corresponding undisturbed soil collected from the Zlatibor mountain in Serbia and ant/soil concentration ratios (CR) calculated. The 241Am concentration ratios for ants were fourfold higher than those calculated for ants in a previous study whereas they are similar to the more numerous data previously reported for a range of detritivorous invertebrates in other studies. CR values for 137Cs in ants were similar to the few other reported values and slightly lower than those for a range of detritivorous invertebrates. Those for 239 + 240Pu were slightly higher than those for ants in two other studies but they were close to upper limit of a range of data reported for detritivorous invertebrates. All the CR values will be included in a future revision of the ERICA Tool database and will particularly improve the information available for uranium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Banatska 31b, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia

    Snezana Dragović & Nevena Mihailović

  2. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology—Lancaster, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK

    Brenda J. Howard, Jane A. Caborn & Catherine L. Barnett

Authors
  1. Snezana Dragović
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  2. Brenda J. Howard
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  3. Jane A. Caborn
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  4. Catherine L. Barnett
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  5. Nevena Mihailović
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Correspondence to Snezana Dragović.

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Dragović, S., Howard, B.J., Caborn, J.A. et al. Transfer of natural and anthropogenic radionuclides to ants, bryophytes and lichen in a semi-natural ecosystem. Environ Monit Assess 166, 677–686 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1032-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1032-4

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