Study of radionuclides and heavy metal migration through soil profiles (0-60 cm) at points near the targets of NATO strikes in 1995: environmental monitoring and assessment

The activity concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides (K-40, Th-232, Ra-226, U-238, Cs-137) and concentrations of six heavy metals of interest (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were investigated in 18 soil samples through soil depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40.40-50, 50-60 cm) at the three selected sites in the Hadzici. Since at this area ammunition with depleted uranium had been used during the NATO strikes in 1995, this study was conducted with the aim to assess the radiological and environmental health hazards. Radioactivity was determined by gamma spectrometry using HPGe and LEGE detectors and content of heavy metals by using a flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The correlation with distribution of the radionuclides and their activity concentrations through depths was found only at the site 1 for K-40, Th-232 and Ra-226, where minimum/maximum activity concentrations for K-40 were 814.42 Bq/kg/1039.48 Bq/kg, for Th-232 53.98 Bq/kg/74.12 Bq/kg and for Ra-226 50.32 Bq/kg/65.73 Bq/kg. Vertical distribution of Cs-137 along 3 site profiles was used for distinction of cultivated and uncultivated soil. Using the activity ratio of U-238/Ra-226 and U-235/U-238, the presence of depleted uranium (DU) was established at the site 3. Obtained I-geo values for determined heavy metals showed that all of three sites were unpolluted to moderately polluted. Pb content in all three sites showed correlation with concentration decreasing with increasing soil depth.

Automated summary

This study investigated the activity concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides as well as the concentrations of six heavy metals in soil samples from three selected sites in Hadzici. The results showed correlations between the distribution of radionuclides and their activity concentrations through depths at one of the sites. The presence of depleted uranium was established at another site using activity ratios. The determined heavy metal concentrations indicated that all three sites were unpolluted to moderately polluted, with lead concentrations decreasing with increasing soil depth.