Distribution of uranium series radionuclides in upland vegetation of northern Saskatchewan. I. Plant and soil concentrations

Abstract

Levels of lead-210, polonium-210, radium-226, and uranium are reported for 10 plant species (2 conifer, 4 shrub, 3 lichen, and 1 moss species) and soils in northern Saskatchewan. Two localities were studied in each of two regions, one uraniferous, the other not. Nonvascular species showed the highest levels of lead-210, polonium-210, and uranium, and the shrubs, the highest levels of radium-226. The lichen and moss species show no significant difference in accumulation of lead-210 and polonium-210 among regions, reflecting the assumed atmospheric distribution and particulate accumulation of these radionuclides. Seven of eight species for which comparisons could be made showed significant differences in uranium accumulation among regions. High levels in the lichen and moss species suggest that the primary source of uranium in these species is not directly from the soil. In contrast to the other radionuclides, radium-226 only showed significant differences among localities within regions, this being due to high accumulations occurring at one locality in the nonuraniferous region.