Activity variations and concentration factors for natural radionuclides in a “soil-plant-honey” system

Abstract

The activity of natural radionuclides (226Ra, 238U, 235U, 232Th, and 40K) was measured in soils, meadow flowers, and honey from a mountain region in West Serbia. No statistically significant differences in the contents of natural radionuclides in soil or meadow flora from different soils (shale or limestone) were obtained, although concentrations were generally higher in shale soils than in soils mainly composed of limestone rocks. Activity of 226Ra, 238U, and 235U in plants was below minimal detectable concentrations (0.4 - 0.1 Bq/kg). The content of 232Th was higher in meadow flora from shale soils. For 40K, there were no significant differences in its concentrations in plants from different soils. The activity of natural radionuclides in honey did not depend on the type of soil or meadow flora, but the variations for 238U and 235U concentrations were high. Concentration factors for “soil-honey” phase were in the range 0.01-0.07, while for “soil-plant” and “plant-honey” phase they could be calculated only for 232Th and 40K and were in the range 0.1–3.0 and 0.09-0.02, respectively.