Abstract
The activity concentration of natural radionuclides in farm soil and most common indigenous food crops (maize, potato, cowpea) in oil-producing (Philippi, Uitenhage, and Hertenbos farms) and non-oil-producing (Ukulinga farm) areas of South Africa was measured using a Hyper Pure Germanium detector. Consequently, the transfer of these radionuclides from soil-to-crops was estimated. The mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K for farm soil samples are 30.71 ± 11.77, 31.97 ± 8.90, 345.97 ± 98.62 Bq.kg−1 for Philippi; 18.67 ± 6.70, 31.55 ± 11.48, 191.93 ± 33.39 Bq.kg−1 for Uitenhage; 38.03 ± 17.44, 41.18 ± 31.54, 381.89 ± 163.40 Bq.kg−1 for Hartenbos; and 8.47 ± 2.87, 8.65 ± 3.52, 94.22 ± 25.97 ± 25.97 Bq.kg−1 for Ukulinga. The mean activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K for crop samples are 4.54 ± 1.47, 4.87 ± 1.69, 140.18 ± 35.38 Bq.kg−1 for Philippi; 9.17 ± 4.79, 3.85 ± 1.87, 136.75 ± 22.04 Bq.kg−1 for Uitenhage; 7.97 ± 2.91, 4.62 ± 2.40, 105.97 ± 48.65 Bq.kg−1 for Hartenbos; and 4.23 ± 1.63, 2.72 ± 1.19, 48.36 ± 15.55 Bq.kg−1 for Ukulinga. The activity concentration and soil-to-crop transfer factors for 40K were found to be much higher, possibly because this element is critical in crop growth. The results showed that the crop samples’ transfer factor is in the order cowpea>potato>maize. This study showed that activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in crops and the corresponding transfer factors depend on activity concentrations of the same radionuclides in soil.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to iThemba LABS, Capetown, South Africa, for giving us access to their Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL) for measuring the radioactivity levels in the farm soils and crop samples. Acknowledgments also extended to the technical staff of the research farm, the school of life sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal Pietermaritzburg campus for their professional contributions.
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Ilori, A.O., Chetty, N. Soil-to-crop transfer of natural radionuclides in farm soil of South Africa. Environ Monit Assess 192, 775 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08756-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08756-7