TRANSFER OF CESIUM-134 FROM AIR TO TOMATO PLANT (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L) BY WET DEPOSITION

• Main Author: IKAWATI, AFIDA
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/25077
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

<p align="justify">Nuclear accidents has the potential for releasing the radionuclides into the environment that may contaminate the air, soil, water, plant, animal and human. Therefore it is required to conduct a study on radionuclide transfer between environmental compartments. The objective of this research is to determine transfer of radionuclide ¹³⁴Cs from the air to the tomato plants in the open ground surface (air and soil contaminated) and close ground surface (air contaminated) by wet deposition, and soil contaminated by ¹³⁴Cs. A total of 72.9 kBq ¹³⁴Cs solution was sprayed on tomato plants, and concentration of contaminated soil of 7.5 Bq/gram was applied for the tomato plant growth medium. Samples were taken every 5 days for 50 days, 3 plants were taken each sampling. The activity of ¹³⁴Cs in plant parts was measured using gamma spectrometer with NaI(Tl) detector. Measurement data were analyzed to obtain the interception factor, translocation factor, and transfer factor of ¹³⁴Cs. The interception value of ¹³⁴Cs from air to tomato plant were 0.072±0.006 (open ground surface /air and soil contaminated with ¹³⁴Cs) and 0.093±0.026 (close ground surface/ air contaminated with ¹³⁴Cs). Translocation factor from the leaves to the fruit in the contaminated air and soil were 0.256 ± 0.118 and in the contaminated air were 0.2 ± 0.08. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, transfer factor from soil to tomatoes fruits were 0.086±0.07. The result from this research indicated that the ¹³⁴Cs which contaminating tomato leave will be spread into the fruit part. To anticipate contamination of radionuclide, the goverment needs to establish policy regarding the consumtion tomatoes which planted surrounding the reactor area. <p align="justify">