Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Spatial variability of soil 137Cs in the South Caspian region

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In a comprehensive program of environmental radioactivity survey in South Caspian region,137Cs inventories in soil has been measured at more than 50 sites in the Iranian northern province of Guilan. This has been the first wide-range survey of soil radionuclide inventories in the narrow band sensitive ecosystem of south Caspian shore. Radioactivity measurements were carried out using HPGe gamma-spectrometry system. The activity concentration of 137Cs in surface soil exhibits a mean value of 17.6 ± 9.4 Bq kg−1, with a range of 2.3–41.7 Bq kg−1. In many sites, split-level sampling method has been applied down to a depth of 20 cm. There were found generally two profiles. Most profiles exhibit a negative exponential distribution, while others revealed a clear subsurface peak in 5–10-cm layer. Cesium deposition in the study area has been estimated to be in the range of 0.38–2.9 kBq m−2 with a mean value of 1.7 kBq m−2. Distribution patterns of 137Cs concentration levels and deposition values have been estimated using Kriging interpolation method. Observed hotspots in deposition pattern coincide with areas of higher precipitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aarkrog, A. (1979). Environmental studies on radioecological sensitivity and variability with special emphasis on the fallout nuclides Sr-90 and Cs-137. In Risø-R-437. Denmark: Risø National Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Almgren, S. (2008). Studies on the Gamma Radiation Environment in Sweden with Special Reference to 137Cs, PhD Thesis, Department of Radiation Physics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

  • Almgren, S., Nilsson, E., Erlandsson, B., & Isaksson, M. (2006). GIS supported calculations of 137Cs deposition in Sweden based on precipitation data. Science of the Total Environment, 368, 804–813.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barisic, D., Vertacnik, A., & Lulic, S. (1999). Cesium contamination and vertical distribution in undisturbed soils in Croatia. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 46, 361–374.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blagoeva, R., & Zikovsky, L. (1995). Geographic and vertical distribution of Cs-137 in soils in Canada. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 21, 269–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bossew, P., & Kirchner, G. (2004). Modeling the vertical distribution of radionuclides in soil. Part 1: the convection–dispersion equation revisited. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 73, 127–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bossew, P., Ditto, M., & Falkner, T. (2001). Contamination of Austrian soil with caesium-137. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 55, 187–194.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bunzl, K., & Kracke, W. (1988). Cumulative deposition of 137Cs, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, and 241Am from global fallout in soils from forest, grassland and arable land in Bavaria (FRG). Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 8, 1–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Cort, M., Dubois, G., Fridman, S. H. D., Germenchuk, M. G., Izrael, Y. A., Janssens, A., et al. (1998). Atlas on the cesium deposition across Europe after the Chernobyl accident. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebrahimi, R. (1999). Study of K, P and N elements in the soil of Guilan due to erosion processes. MSc Thesis, Agricultural Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

  • Fowler, D., Smith, R. I., Leith, I. D., Crossley, A., Mourne, R. W., Branford, D. W., et al. (1998). Quantifying fine-scale variability in pollutant deposition in complex terrain using 210Pb inventories in soil. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 105, 459–470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Froehlicha, K., Rozanskib, K., Povinecc, P., Oregionic, B., & Gastaudc, J. (1999). Isotope studies in the Caspian Sea. Science of the Total Environment, 237/238, 419–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakimian, M. (1977). Characteristics of Some Selected Soils in the Caspian Sea Region of Iran. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 41, 1155–1161.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, B. J. (2000). The concept of radioecological sensitivity. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 92, 29–34.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iranian Meteorological Organization (IMO) (2009). Guilan office periodical Report, Rasht, Iran (in Persian).

  • Isaksson, M., & Erlandsson, B. (1998). Models for the vertical migration of 137Cs in the ground—A field study. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 41, 163–182.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isaksson, M., Erlandsson, B., & Mattsson, S. (2001). A 10-year study of the 137Cs distribution in soil and a comparison of Cs soil inventory with precipitation-determined deposition. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 55, 47–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karadeniz, O., & Yaprak, G. (2008). Vertical distributions and gamma dose rates of 40 K, 232Th, 238U and 137Cs in the selected forest soils in Izmir, Turkey. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 131, 346–355.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khoshbinfar, S. (2010). Study of distribution of 137Cs in South-west Caspian soils. PhD Thesis, University of Guilan, Iran.

  • Kim, C. S., Lee, M. H., Kim, C. K., & Kim, K. H. (1998). 90Sr, 137Cs, 239+240Pu and 238Pu concentrations in surface soils of Korea. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 40, 75–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kostianoy, A.G. (2010). The Caspian sea environmental problems. In proceedings of the International Conference on The Caspian Region, Moscow, Russia, 14–16 October 2010. MSU, Moscow.

  • Kulahcl, F., Sen, Z., & Kazanc, S. (2008). Cesium concentration spatial distribution modeling by point cumulative semi-variogram. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 195, 151–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, M. H., & Lee, C. W. (1997). Distribution and characteristics of 239,240Pu and 137Cs in the soil of Korea. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 37, 1–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luksien, B., Druteikien, R., Gvozdait, R., & Gudelis, A. (2006). Comparative analysis of 239Pu, 137Cs, 210Pb and 40 K spatial distributions in the top soil layer at Baltic Coasts. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 87, 305–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mabit, L., & Bernard, C. (2007). Assessment of spatial distribution of fallout radionuclides through geostatistics concept. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 97, 206–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nimis, P. L. (1996). Radiocesium in plants of forest ecosystems. Studia Geobotanica, 15, 3–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pálsson, S. E., Howard, B. J., & Wright, S. M. (2006). Prediction of spatial variation in global fallout of 137Cs using precipitation. Science of the Total Environment, 367, 745–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piegorsch, W. W., & Bailer, A. J. (2005). Analyzing environmental data. New York: John Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Quang, N. H., Long, N. Q., Lieu, D. B., Mai, T. T., Ha, N. T., Nhan, D. D., et al. (2004). 239+240Pu, 90Sr and 137Cs inventories in surface soils of Vietnam. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 75, 329–337.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C., & Ritchie, C. A. (2005). Bibliography of publication of 137Cs studies related to erosion and sediment deposition. Washigton D.C: USDA-ARS, Unites States Department of Agriculture.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roussel-Debel, S., Renaud, P., & Metivier, J. (2007). 137Cs in French soils-deposition patterns and 15-year evolution. Science of the Total Environment, 374, 388–398.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SURFER. Ver. 9. (2009). Instruction manual. Golden: Golden Software Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szegvary, T., Conen, F., Stöhlker, U., Dubois, G., Bossew, P., & De Vries, G. (2007). Mapping terrestrial γ-dose rate in Europe based on routine monitoring data. Radiation Measurement, 42, 1561–1572.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takenaka, C., Onda, Y., & Hamajimav, Y. (1998). Distribution of cesium-137 in Japanese forest soils: Correlation with the contents of organic carbon. Science of the Total Environment, 222, 193–199.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, X., Yang, H., Zhao, Q., Li, R., & Du, M. (2002). 137Cs depth distribution in haplic-udic ferrosols of Southern China and its implication for soil erosion. Soil Science, 167, 147–163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). (1982). Ionizing radiation: Sources and biological effects. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). (2000). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varinliog Lu, A., & Kose, A. (2005). Determination of natural and artificial radionuclide levels in soils of western and southern coastal area of Turkey. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 164, 401–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaidi, M. K., & Mustafaev, I. (2004). Radiation safety problems in the Caspian Region: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Radiation Safety Problems in the Caspian Region, Baku, Azerbaijan, 11–14 September 2003. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of those colleagues involved in the environmental radioactivity survey program in the South Caspian region, especially J. Amidi, A. Attarilar, Y. Ahadi, S. Asnaashari, M. Tikdarinezhad, and E. Lotfi.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soheil Khoshbinfar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Khoshbinfar, S., Vahabi Moghaddam, M. Spatial variability of soil 137Cs in the South Caspian region. Environ Monit Assess 184, 3053–3062 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2170-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2170-z

Keywords

Navigation