Kinetics of radionuclides and heavy metals behaviour in soils: Implications for plant growth

Abstract

The extent of metal and radionuclide contamination in the world is immense. In soils, metals and
radionuclide can be dissolved in solution, or ion exchanged in reaction, complexed with soil organics
or precipitate as pure or mixed solids. Soluble contaminants are subject to migration with soil water,
uptake by plants or aquatic organisms or loss due to volatilization. Lead, chromium, zinc, arsenic and
cadmium are the most frequently identified inorganic contaminants in soil and ground water. Unlike
degradable organic contaminants and ever short -lived radionuclides that can become less toxic over
time, metals can be considered conservative. However, many metals, especially radio -sensitive
elements such as arsenic and chromium can undergo transformation or sorption reaction that alter
both mobility and relative toxicity. This paper therefore, makes a review of these behaviours of
radionuclides and heavy metals in soils, in connection to soil contamination and their effects on plant
growth.