RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL–SOIL-SOLUTION DISTRIBUTION COEFFICIENTS OF 125I AND 127I IN PASTURE SOIL

Abstract

Abstract We measured the depth profiles of soil–soil-solution distribution coefficients (Kd) of native 127I (127I-Kd) and exogenous 125I– (125I-Kd) in soils from a pasture near the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Japan, and investigated their relationships to depth profiles of the concentration in soil of 127I and organic C and Kd of organic C (C-Kd). The depth profiles of 125I-Kd and 127I-Kd were similar. The relatively low 127I concentrations and low values of both 127I-Kd and 125I-Kd indicate that some of the I deposited on the soil surface have been transported to depths greater than 10 cm. On the other hand, high 127I-Kd/125I-Kd ratios in the uppermost 10 cm of soil indicate that some of the 127I bound to that soil could not be exchanged with exogenous 125I. Although a previous study has shown a power function relationship between 125I-Kd and C-Kd, our data show that the relationships of both 125I-Kd and 127I-Kd to C-Kd are exponential functions. The reason for these conflicting results is unknown. Nonetheless, our data clearly show Kd values for both 125I– and 127I to be dependent on C-Kd. In addition, the dependence of both 127I-Kd and 125I-Kd on C-Kd suggests that organic material in the soil has a role in the transport of I down the soil profile.