Natural and Artificial Radionuclides Distribution in Some Lichens, Mosses, and Trees in the Vicinity of Lignite Power Plants from West Macedonia, Greece

Abstract

The distribution of natural ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra and artificial ¹³⁷Cs has been investigated in nonvascular mosses (9 species) and lichens (10 species) and vascular gymnosperm (1 species), angiosperm trees and shrubs (3 species) over the Kozani-Ptolemaïda-Amynteon lignite basin in West Macedonia, Greece. Four lignite power plants producing about 70% of the electric energy of the country are to be found in this region. Both specific activity and transfer factors of these radionuclides have been determined by means of experiments. This study indicates that with regard to ²²⁶Ra and ¹³⁷Cs, nonvascular lichens and mosses have a much higher transfer factor (2.27 for ²²⁶Ra and 43.77 ¹³⁷Cs) compared with vascular plants (0.17 for ²²⁶Ra and 0.03 ¹³⁷Cs), but a lower one for natural ⁴⁰K (0.493 for lichens and mosses and respectively 1.190 for vascular plants). Compared with unpolluted areas (0.25 Bq/kg), the ²²⁶Ra specific activity in lichens and mosses was systematically higher (26.43 and 56.74 Bq/kg respectively).

Keywords:

• Greece
• Lignite
• Natural radionuclides
• Cs-137
• Lichens
• Mosses
• Trees
• Pollution