4.2.4
Treatment
with
Potassium
Fertilizer.
Exploratory
experiments have shown that potassium fertilizer at high levels will
the specific-activity of cesium-137 in plants
reduction
the
presumably is
uptake
effective
of
against
the
(27N, 28, Appendix B).
the result of competitive
cesium-137.,
The
cesium
extent
levels
to
on
reduce
blocking by potassium of
which
Bikini
Such
such
blockade
Island
is
not
would
be
known;
to
estimate this, support has been requested for pilot trials that would begin
in the fall of 1984.
|
Although such treatment may not be powerful
the high levels of cesium-137 on Bikini
enough for
Island, it maybe of use in marginal
or moderate cases of contamination, for example, Enedrik, where 50 percent
reduction
in
plant uptake would lead
to a diet
that meets
the
standard.
Potassium treatment might also be used to truncate the end of the 80-year
waiting period for Bikini if that island is allowed to go untreated.
The
advantage
of
potassium
treatment
is
that
the
topsoil is retained, and in fact, its productivity would be improved by the
fertilizer treatment.
treatment
after
cost.
year
activity
On
until
to
an
The increased yields would partly compensate for the
the
other
spontaneous
acceptable
hand,
the
treatment
decay
of
the
level.
must be
cesium-13/
Furthermore,
the
continued
reduces
treatment
decontaminate the ground water.
year
specificdoes
not
.
The cost of such a treatment would be of the order of
$500 per hectare (.01 km?) ,
The cost of radioactivity monitoring also must
be allowed for.
and total costs, however, cannot be stated now
with
any
The annual
precision
because
it
is
not
yet
known
how
frequently
the
individual treatments must be given.
4.3
Soil
Removal
Removal
is the direct way to deal with contaminated soil.
clearing of vegetation, the contaminated soil
2000030.
se
After
is excavated and disposed of