Activity concentration of radionuclides in plants in the environment of Western Ghats

A field study on the transfer of primordial radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 40K and fallout radionuclides 210Po in different plant species in tropical forest of western Ghats environment is presented. The top storey, Second storey, Shrubs and epiphytic plant species were chosen and concentration of these radionuclides in plant and soil were measured by employing gamma ray spectrometer and alpha counter. The concentration ratio shows the variation in different species while a wild plant Elaeocarpus oblongus and epiphytic plants indicated preferential uptake of these radionuclides. The dust trapped in the root system of epiphytic plants could be used as bioindicator to monitor fallout radionuclides in the Western Ghats. The concentration of 232Th and 40K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves

Bio-indicators in the tropical forest of Western Ghats environment

Investigation on the natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 40K and natural fallout radionuclide 210Po in the prominent plants species of Western Ghats tropical forest near Kotagiri have been carried out as a part of baseline background radiation studies in the forest environment. The prominent plants species of the region Evodia roxburghiana and Eleaocarpus oblangus were chosen and concentrations of [238]U, [232]Th, [40]K and [210]Po were measured by employing gamma ray spectrometer and alpha counter. The radioactivity concentrations in plants and soils reflect the impact of the existence of igneous nature of rock in the area of study. Concentration ratios [CR] of these radionuclides, between plants and underlying soil, have been studied and results shows that the concentration ratios [CR] seem to be depend on radionuclides in soil. From careful analysis of the results, these plants could be used as an indicator to monitor these radonuclides