Neutron Activation Products from Project Sedan in Plants and Soils

Neutron activation products of tungsten, scandium, and antimony were among those radionuclides concentrated through roots of plants grown on ejecta from the Sedan thermonuclear cratering detonation. Nuclear reactor‐produced isotopes were used in corroborative experiments to investigate, in greater detail, their behavior in plants and soils. Radiotantalum was also included as a matter of academic interest. Plants concentrated more Sc 46 , Sb 124 , and W 185 in leaves than in stems, whereas Ta 182 was concentrated more in stems. Plant uptake of Sc 46 , Sb 124 , and W 185 was Influenced by different types of soil. Scandium‐46 and Ta 182 were virtually immobile in columns of soil leached with 76 cm of water while Sb 124 and W 186 moved readily in neutral and alkaline soil, but not in acidic soil. Their behavior was influenced by the kind of clay mineral present, the sodium and potassium content, and the soil pH.