Concentrations of 137Cs and 40K radionuclides and some heavy metals in soil samples from the eastern part of the Main Ridge of the Flysch Carpathians

Abstract

The aim of the study is to present the results of determination of radioactivity of artificial 137Cs and natural 40K and certain heavy metals in soil samples collected from the eastern part of the Main Ridge of Carpathians, including the Beskid Niski Mts and the Bieszczady Mts. The evaluation of level of radionuclides was based on the bulk density analysis of the soil. A valuable finding of the study was a good linear correlation between the level of 137Cs concentration and bulk density of the soil as well as an inverse correlation between radioactivity of natural 40K and tested soil density. This might indicate though a high competitiveness of these elements between each other. Moreover, a good correlation between the concentrations of artificial element 137Cs and Pb has been also observed in soil samples collected from the Beskid Niski Mts. In most cases, the level of artificial 137Cs was lower comparing to an average 137Cs concentration established for soils in Poland. © 2014 The Author(s).