PB-210 IN VEGETABLES AND SOILS FROM AN AREA OF HIGH NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN BRAZIL

Contamination of vegetables and associated soils by Pb-210, originating either by natural fallout from uranium or by the processing mills of Pocos de Caldas (CIPC), State of Minas Gerais, Brazil is estimated by comparison with similar control samples collected from areas distant from the mining and milling operations. For lichens and bryophytes, the mean values of Pb-210 concentrations were significantly higher than those of the control region. Similarly, vegetables and soils from kitchen-gardens located near the mill contained much higher concentrations of Pb-210 than those observed for other regions.