Atmospheric fallout radionuclides in peatland from Southern Poland.

Two peat profiles were collected in a peat bog located in Southern Poland and their geochronology were determined using Pb, Pu and Cs radiometric techniques. The Pb chronologies were established using the constant rate of supply model (CRS) and are in good agreement with the Pu isotopes and Cs time markers. Maximum activities of Pu isotopes were found at a depth corresponding to the early 1960s, which is the period characterized by the maximum nuclear weapon tests. The results showed that the Pb method is the most accurate technique for the determination age and accumulation rate of a peat. The next part of this study calculated linear accumulation rates by analyzing Pu and Cs vertical distributions in the profiles. Activities of fallout isotopes were also measured in plants covering the peatland. The highest activities of Cs and Pb were found in Calluna vulgaris samples, and Pu were found only in two samples (C. vulgaris and leaves of Oxycoccus quadripelatus).