Characteristics of radionuclides in soil and tea plant (Camellia sinensis) in Hoa Binh, Vietnam

Understanding concentration and mobility behavior of radionuclides in soil and plant plays an important role and application. In this study, radionuclides in 28 soil layers and tea plant parts samples at Hoa Binh, Vietnam were investigated by gamma spectrometry. The results showed that the 137Cs concentration significantly decreased with the depth, while other radionuclides was almost unchanged. The transfer factor (TF) for 137Cs from soil to tea root was highest, followed by that from soil to trunk and from soil to leaf. By contrast, for the natural radionuclides, the highest transfer factor was recorded from soil to leaf, followed by the transfer factor from soil to trunk and the lowest one was observed from soil to root. Regarding the trending bioaccumulation (BFA) for tea plant decreased as the solubility and mobility of radionuclides decreased BFA (40K > 137Cs > 226Ra > 228Ra).