Assessment Activity Concentrations of Rice Components (Root, Stem, Leaf, and Grain) and Transfer Factors (TF) from Paddy Soil to Rice Grain of Radionuclides <sup>40</sup>K, <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>137</sup>Cs Investigation in Taiwan
This study analyzed the activity concentrations of various radionuclides in irrigation water, rice components, and corresponding soil samples from eleven paddy fields, revealing significant findings with potential environmental and health implications. The soil exhibited high levels of activity conc...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/23 |
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| Summary: | This study analyzed the activity concentrations of various radionuclides in irrigation water, rice components, and corresponding soil samples from eleven paddy fields, revealing significant findings with potential environmental and health implications. The soil exhibited high levels of activity concentrations ranging from 350 to 829, 12.4 to 41.2, and 18.5 to 60.3 Bq/kg, with mean values of 609, 31.1, and 45.0 Bq/kg for <sup>40</sup>K, <sup>226</sup>Ra, and <sup>232</sup>Th respectively. Additionally, 12 soil samples from two paddy fields showed <sup>137</sup>Cs activity concentrations of 5.6 ± 1.3 Bq/kg. The rice plant roots accumulated the highest percentages of total activity concentrations for <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>137</sup>Cs, ranging from 76–86%, while only 1.1–10.0% were found in the un-hulled grain. For <sup>40</sup>K, activity concentrations were distributed among the root (23%), stem (32%), leaf (35%), and un-hulled grain (10%). The mean activity concentrations were 99 ± 12, 0.49 ± 0.09, 0.43 ± 0.12, and 0.10–0.31 Bq/kg for <sup>40</sup>K, <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>137</sup>Cs for un-hulled rice grain, respectively. Transfer factors (TFs) from soil to un-hulled rice grain were calculated as (1.21–2.86) × 10<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>40</sup>K, (0.07–0.11) × 10<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>232</sup>Th, (0.11–0.29) × 10<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>226</sup>Ra, and (0.16–0.61) × 10<sup>−1</sup> for <sup>137</sup>Cs. Notably, significant negative correlations were observed between TFs and soil concentrations for <sup>40</sup>K (r = 0.92, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>n</i> = 11) and <sup>226</sup>Ra (<i>r</i> = 0.98, <i>p</i> = 0.026, <i>n</i> = 4), suggesting that macronutrients in soil solutions may inhibit the linear transfer of natural nuclides from the soil solution to rice plants. |
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| ISSN: | 2073-4395 |