Activity concentration of radionuclides in plants in the environment of western Ghats, India

Background: A field study on the transfer of primordial radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 40K and fallout radionuclides 210Po in
different plant species in tropical forest of western Ghats environment, India, is presented. Material and Methods: The
Top storey, Short storey, Shrubs and Epiphytic plant species were sampled and concentration of these radionuclides
in plant and soil were measured by employing a gamma ray spectrometer and an alpha counter. Results: The soil-plant
concentration ratio shows the variation of radionuclide accumulation in different species while a wild plant
Elaeocarpus oblongus and epiphytic plants indicated preferential uptake of these radionuclides. Conclusion: The dust
particles dust trapped in the root system of epiphytic plants could be used as bioindicator to monitor fallout
radionuclides in the Western Ghats. The concentration of 232Th and 40K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves