Pages: 44-51

Authors: Ana Čučulović, Dragana Popović, Rodoljub Čučulović, Jelena Ajtić

Abstract

The paper presents the results of radionuclides determination in moss (Homolothecium sp., Hypnum Cupressiforme sp., and Brachythecium sp.) and lichen (Cladonia sp.) sampled in the region of Eastern Serbia during 1996-2010.  The activities in moss are in the range of 100-500 Bq/kg d. w. for ⁴⁰K, and 5-50 Bq/kg d. w. for ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th, while the “soil-to-moss” transfer factors are 0.45 for ⁴⁰K, 3 for ²²⁶Ra, and 0.3 for ²³²Th. The spatial distribution of the ¹³⁷Cs activities is highly non-uniform; some values reach 500 Bq/kg d. w., with less than 10% of the samples, mainly the ones taken prior to 2000, with the activity above 1000 Bq/kg d. w. The variations in the content of natural radionuclides among the moss species are not significant. The frequency pattern of the activities of natural radionuclides in lichen is similar to the one in moss, but the activities in lichen are to some extent lower. The mean activity of ¹³⁷Cs in lichen is below 400 Bq/kg d. w. The mean activities of ⁷Be in moss and lichen sampled in 2006 and 2008 are in the range of 41-122 Bq/kg d. w., with pronounced variations between the sampling sites.

 

Key words: moss, lichen, radionuclides, Eastern Serbia

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