Physical and geochemical aspects on strontium transport for safety assessment studies

In nuclear safety studies, the transport of radionuclides in environmental matrices (e.g. soil, groundwater, surface water, etc.) is one of the key issue to consider. Safety assessment aims to foresee and manage the environmental and radiological impact of possible radionuclide releases into the environment. In particular, the prediction of radionuclide dynamic due to its interaction with the subsoil and to the impact of meteorological conditions must be investigated. Several techniques can be used to perform these analysis, such as experimental data and/or simulation tools. In this work, the impact of different ground covers (e.g. grass, pasture, wheat) on the mobility of strontium in space and time was investigated focusing on its behaviour in the unsaturated zone. The results highlight the impact of different ground covers on the absorption of strontium by plant roots. They can be useful to evidence the factors affecting the transfer of radionuclides from environmental matrices to the food chain and to support Safety Assessment studies about nuclear plant activities during its life cycle.