super(137)Cs, super(226, 228)Ra, super(210)Pb and super(40)K concentrations in Antarctic soil, sediment and selected moss and lichen samples

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 33 - 45
• Main Authors: Godoy, J M, Schuch, LA, Nordemann, DJR, Reis, VRG, Ramalho, M, Recio, J C, Brito, RRA, Olech, MA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1998
• Subjects: PSW, Antarctica, South Shetland Is., King George I
• ISSN: 0265-931X

During the summers of 1986, 1988 and 1992, soil, sediment, lichen and moss samples were collected near the Brazilian Antarctic station, Comandante Ferraz, King George Island, South Shetland Archipelago, and also in other South Shetland Islands. The content of super(137)Cs and of natural radionuclides were determined by gamma spectrometry. Highest super(137)Cs levels were found in the lichen and moss samples, with mean values of (15 plus or minus 14) and (23 plus or minus 14) Bq kg sub(d) super(-) sub(r) super(1) sub(y), respectively. Particularly in soil, the super(226)Ra and super(228)Ra contents were much higher for the samples from King George Island than for those from the other islands of the same archipelago. Based on its content in soil, the super(137)Cs inventory for the 60-70 degree S latitude band was estimated at 143 Bq m super(2), which agrees with the literature data.