SOME EKVIROKMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCI);G RADIOSTRONTIUM tTPTAKE BY PLANTS*

Radiostrontium is foremost among the by-products of nuclear fission presently considered to be hazardous to man because it may be transmitted readily through the food chains leading to man 2 5 s 16. The main source of radiostrontium contamination of the natural environment has been from the fallout debris of nuclear detonations. It is probable that radiostrontium may continue to be dispersed into the natural environment from other sources upon future utilization of nuclear energy. The continued production of radiostrontium has motivated studies of various factors that may inhibit the transfer of strontium through the soil-to-plant phase of the food chain leading to man. Data reported in this paper show some plant species effects and the influence of short-term variation:;; in root temperature, light intensity and photoperiod on Sr90 uptake by crop plants.