The Migration of 137Cs and 90Sr in Multilayered Soils: Results from Batch, Column, and Fallout Investigations

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Abstract
Rates of migration, retardation factors, and distribution coefficients of 137Cs and 90Sr were determined in the various horizons of three typical soils (podsol, ranker, and brown soil) by employing batch procedures, column experiments, and evaluating the measured distribution of these radionuclides in the field as a result of their deposition from worldwide fallout. To obtain the distribution coefficients of the radionuclides for each soil horizon from the column experiments, the radionuclide distribution in the undisturbed soil monoliths (1 m long, 30-cm diam) was determined from the outside by a scanner technique after various times. The columns were irrigated with rainwater using the same quantities as observed at the site of sampling. Tritium labeled rainwater was used to obtain the hydrodynamic properties of the soil columns (pore water velocity, dispersion coefficient, and volumetric moisture content).Assuming that the fallout investigations yielded the most realistic results, the observations sugge...