Accumulation and Soil-to-Plant Transfer of Radionuclides in the Nile Delta Coastal Black Sand Habitats
- Citation:
- Hegazy, A. K., and M. H. Emam, "Accumulation and Soil-to-Plant Transfer of Radionuclides in the Nile Delta Coastal Black Sand Habitats", International Journal of Phytoremediation, vol. 13, issue 2, pp. 140-55, 2011.
Abstract:
The radionuclide content was estimated in the soil of three black sand habitats in theMediterranean coast of Egypt, namely, sand mounds and coastal sand planes and dunes. Inaddition, a total of 14 heavy minerals found in the soils were characterized. The soil to planttransfer of uranium and thorium was tested on three black sand species, namely, Cakile maritimaScop. Senecioglaucus L. and RumexPictusForssk. The transfer of thoriumand uranium radionuclides from the soil to plant is complex process that is subjected tomany variables; among which are the organic matter and clay content of the soil, the type ofradionuclides and plant species. The study revealed a strong negative relationship betweenuranium and thorium uptake by S. glaucus and R. pictus and the clay and organic mattercontent of soil. Concentration of thorium in the soil has a negative correlation with soil-toplanttransfer factor. The study results suggest the possibility of using black sand speciesfor phytoremediation of soils contaminated with radioactive elements. The potentiality of S.glaucus as phytoremediator of radionuclides polluted soils is greater than R. pictus whichin turn outweigh C. maritima.
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