Assessment of Po-210 and Pb-210 in lichen, moss and soil around Can coal-fired power plant, Turkey

Abstract

This paper deals with determination of Po-210 and Pb-210 activity concentrations using epigeic moss (Hypnum cupressiforme), bushy soil (fruticose) lichen (Cladonia rangiformis) and surface soil samples in the area around C, an coal-fired power plant, northwest Turkey. Mean activity concentrations of Po-210 and Pb-210 were found to be 303.9 and 425.8 Bq kg(-1) for moss, 161.6 and 259.1 Bq kg(-1) for lichen, and 79.9 and 91.5 Bq kg(1) for soil samples at dry weight, respectively. We propose that distance and altitude of sampling site may be of significant parameters of distribution of both radionuclides.