Stable and Radioactive Cesium in Natural Environment

Cesium is the heaviest stable alkali metal (with only one isotope – 133Cs) and it occurs mainly as a potassium-substituting cation. It an important trace element in rocks typical for Earth crust, its content biomass also relatively high compared to those abiogenic elements which are little soluble. Low-cost analytical methods like X-Ray Fluorescence inadequate quantify cesium natural samples, so that usage of ICP-MS (Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass Spectrometry) or INAA (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis) necessary. Nevertheless, investigation pollution with radioactive 137Cs, fission product can be measured gamma-ray spectrometry, contributed knowledge biogeochemistry cesium. has been shown Cs usually strongly retained humus (thank clay minerals), cycling intensely within soil-biomass system, being slowly removed (at least, this valid ecosystems temperate climate). The results extensive biomonitoring Czech coniferous forests prevailing spruce) show concentrated (relatively all other elements) by processes.