The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale
<p>The transfer of radiocaesium (<span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs) from soil to crops is the main long-term radiation risk after nuclear accidents. The prevailing concept is that <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137&l...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | SOIL |
| Online Access: | https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/11/339/2025/soil-11-339-2025.pdf |
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| author | M. Vanheukelom M. Vanheukelom N. Haenen N. Haenen T. Almahayni L. Sweeck N. Weyns M. Van Hees E. Smolders |
| author_facet | M. Vanheukelom M. Vanheukelom N. Haenen N. Haenen T. Almahayni L. Sweeck N. Weyns M. Van Hees E. Smolders |
| author_sort | M. Vanheukelom |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>The transfer of radiocaesium (<span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs) from soil to crops is the main long-term radiation risk after nuclear accidents. The prevailing concept is that <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs sorption in soil – and, hence, its bioavailability – is controlled by soil clay content (0–2 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m). This study tested this assumption using 24 soils collected worldwide. The radiocaesium interception potential (RIP), i.e., <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs adsorption, was measured for the bulk soils and for their clay and silt fractions. The RIP varied by a factor of 438 among soils and was <i>unrelated</i> to the clay content (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span> <span class="inline-formula">></span> 0.05). The RIP in the clay fractions was lowest for young volcanic soils with allophane and mica and for highly weathered tropical soils with kaolinite. In contrast, RIP values about 2 orders of magnitude higher were found in intermediate-weathered temperate soils dominated by illite. Soil RIP was, hence, related to soil illite content (R<span class="inline-formula"><sup>2</sup>=</span> 0.50; <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span> <span class="inline-formula"><</span> 0.001). A significant fraction of soil RIP originated from clay minerals embedded in the silt fraction. The sum of RIP in clay and silt fractions overestimated the soil RIP by, on average, a factor of 2, indicating that the isolation of clay opens selective <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs sorption sites inaccessible in intact soils. Soil mineralogy, not just clay content, governs soil RIP. In terms of validity, existing <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs bioavailability models require recalibration for use on a global scale.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c63b867e4a3a47759475e5c0adccca78 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2199-3971 2199-398X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | SOIL |
| spelling | doaj-art-c63b867e4a3a47759475e5c0adccca782025-08-20T03:53:27ZengCopernicus PublicationsSOIL2199-39712199-398X2025-04-011133936210.5194/soil-11-339-2025The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scaleM. Vanheukelom0M. Vanheukelom1N. Haenen2N. Haenen3T. Almahayni4L. Sweeck5N. Weyns6M. Van Hees7E. Smolders8Biosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, BelgiumDivision of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Leuven, 3001, BelgiumBiosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, BelgiumDivision of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Leuven, 3001, BelgiumBiosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, BelgiumBiosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, BelgiumDivision of Geology, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200e – P.O. Box 2411, Leuven, 3001, BelgiumBiosphere Impact Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, BelgiumDivision of Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, Leuven, 3001, Belgium<p>The transfer of radiocaesium (<span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs) from soil to crops is the main long-term radiation risk after nuclear accidents. The prevailing concept is that <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs sorption in soil – and, hence, its bioavailability – is controlled by soil clay content (0–2 <span class="inline-formula">µ</span>m). This study tested this assumption using 24 soils collected worldwide. The radiocaesium interception potential (RIP), i.e., <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs adsorption, was measured for the bulk soils and for their clay and silt fractions. The RIP varied by a factor of 438 among soils and was <i>unrelated</i> to the clay content (<span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span> <span class="inline-formula">></span> 0.05). The RIP in the clay fractions was lowest for young volcanic soils with allophane and mica and for highly weathered tropical soils with kaolinite. In contrast, RIP values about 2 orders of magnitude higher were found in intermediate-weathered temperate soils dominated by illite. Soil RIP was, hence, related to soil illite content (R<span class="inline-formula"><sup>2</sup>=</span> 0.50; <span class="inline-formula"><i>p</i></span> <span class="inline-formula"><</span> 0.001). A significant fraction of soil RIP originated from clay minerals embedded in the silt fraction. The sum of RIP in clay and silt fractions overestimated the soil RIP by, on average, a factor of 2, indicating that the isolation of clay opens selective <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs sorption sites inaccessible in intact soils. Soil mineralogy, not just clay content, governs soil RIP. In terms of validity, existing <span class="inline-formula"><sup>137</sup></span>Cs bioavailability models require recalibration for use on a global scale.</p>https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/11/339/2025/soil-11-339-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | M. Vanheukelom M. Vanheukelom N. Haenen N. Haenen T. Almahayni L. Sweeck N. Weyns M. Van Hees E. Smolders The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale SOIL |
| title | The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale |
| title_full | The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale |
| title_fullStr | The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale |
| title_full_unstemmed | The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale |
| title_short | The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale |
| title_sort | clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale |
| url | https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/11/339/2025/soil-11-339-2025.pdf |
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