Geographical distribution of 90Sr contamination in Poland

Abstract

Summary The paper presents results on determination of 90Sr in bilberry and cowberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and the use of these plants as bio-monitors of radiostrontium contamination in Poland. Radiostrontium was determined by mean of liquid scintillation spectrometry preceded by radiochemical separation using Sr-resin and 85Sr tracer. The approximate map of 90Sr contamination of Poland is presented. The activity ratio between 90Sr and obtained earlier data for 137Cs in the same samples is discussed. The enhancement of radiostrontium content observed in northeastern Poland seems to be the trace of hot-particles fallout from initial Chernobyl cloud, which passed over Polish territory toward Scandinavia.