Soil Biological Activity And Radionuclide Concentrations In Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Soil biological activity and radionuclide data from 18 sites in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in 2016, with data from four sites in 2005. The dataset includes site location, soil chemistry, activity concentrations for isotopes like Americium-241 and Caesium-137, and estimated absorbed dose rates for soil invertebrates and bacteria. It was produced by UKCEH, the Chernobyl Centre for Nuclear Safety, and the University of Salford to evaluate radiation impact on soil organisms.

Use Cases

• Model the relationship between radionuclide activity concentrations (e.g., Caesium-137, Plutonium-239) and soil biological activity measurements.
• Analyze spatial variation in estimated absorbed dose rates to soil invertebrates and bacteria across the 18 sampling sites.
• Compare soil chemistry variables like pH and soil moisture with isotope concentrations to assess environmental factors.
• Evaluate temporal changes by comparing data from the four 2005 sites with the 2016 survey results.

Strengths

• Includes data from 22 distinct sampling events across two time periods (2005 and 2016).
• Measures multiple radionuclide isotopes including Americium-241, Caesium-137, and Plutonium isotopes.
• Provides derived metrics like estimated absorbed dose rates for soil organisms.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 18 sites for the primary 2016 survey.
• Temporal coverage is sparse, with only four data points from 2005 for comparison.
• Geographic scope is restricted solely to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre

Collection Method

Field measurements of soil chemistry, radionuclide activity concentrations, and soil biological activity using bait lamina sticks.

Time Range

September 2005 and spring 2016

Freshness

null

Geography

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine