[The transfer of 137Cs and 90Sr into flour, bran and straw from wheat, rye, barley and oats in the years 1982, 1986 (reactor accident in Chernobyl) and 1987 in field studies].

The specific activity of 137Cs and 90Sr from the global fallout, as well as from the fallout after the reactor accident at Chernobyl, was determined in flour, bran and straw from wheat, rye, barley and oats as well in the corresponding soils (Cambisol). The results show that the activity of 137Cs, but not of 90Sr, in the plant material was considerably higher in 1986, and still to some extent in 1987, compared to 1982. For 137Cs an 90Sr, as well as for most cereal samples, the activity in the bran and straw was significantly higher than in the flour. Determination of stable potassium and calcium in all samples revealed that this enrichment is, to a large extent, the result of a comparable enrichment of these elements in brans and straw. The plant/soil concentration ratios, averaged over all cereals, were for 137Cs (1982 and 1987): flour 0.026 +/- 0.018; bran 0.079 +/- 0.042; straw 0.055 +/- 0.027. For 90Sr (1982, 1986, and 1987): flour 0.19 +/- 0.095; bran 0.70 +/- 0.23; straw 2.35 +/- 0.82.