Comparison of 238U, 210Po and 210Pb Speciation in Six Different Types of Soils.

ABSTRACT

Speciation of 238U, 210Po and 210Pb in six different types of Syrian soil (Entisols, Inceptisol, Aridisol, Mollisols, Vertisols and Rock outcrops) was studied using a four-step sequential extraction procedure. The binding nature of 238U, 210Po and 210Pb was correlated with soil properties including soil particles, pH, EC, OM, sand, silt and clay. The results showed that the exchangeable and carbonate fractions of 238U did not exceed 10%. In addition, the 238U, 210Po and 210Pb fractions bonded to organic matter increased as the soil clay content decreased. The highest 210Po fraction was found to be bonded to soil Fe/Al/Mn-oxides for Entisols soils (56%) and silica for Aridisol soils (53%). Soil clay content showed a linear correlation with 210Po concentrations in soils ranging from 0.34 to 0.91. The results are considered useful in assessing the risks resulting from soils contaminated by naturally occurring radioactive material from the phosphate and oil industry.