Long-term decline of super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs concentration in honey in the second decade after the Chernobyl accident

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2007-08, Vol.382 (1), p.147-152
• Main Authors: Panatto, D, Gasparini, R, Lai, P, Rovatti, P, Gallelli, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0048-9697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.03.040

In the years 2001-2004 the super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs activity was investigated in a total of 336 samples of different varieties of honey harvested in the Liguria Region of Northern Italy. Our purpose was to define (a) residual radioactive contamination following the Chernobyl accident and super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs long-term decline, (b) correlation between super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs activity and different honey varieties, and (c) correlation between super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs activity and the prevailing geomorphological configuration in the collection areas. The mean super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs specific activity was 4.33+/-5.04 S.D. Bq/kg. Chestnut honey showed higher levels of radioactive contamination, which were ascribed to the extensive, superficial and deep, root apparatus of the tree. Honey samples from acidic argillite soils, which withhold radionuclides after deposition and slowly release them to plants, also showed higher super(1) super(3) super(7)Cs activity. Long-term decline was calculated at 456 days, a value lower than those published from different food sources in the years following the accident. The rate of long-term decline decreases with time.