Annual patterns of Cs-133 concentration in british upland vegetation

Samples of Juncus effusus, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Molinia caerulea, Pteridium aquilinum and Festuca ovina (all species characteristic of upland Britain) were taken from the field over a one year period and analysed for Cs-133 by electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Concentrations of Cs-133 all plant species varied significantly over the course of the year. Species characteristic of waterlogged sites had the lowest and least variable Cs-133 concentrations. There were significant differences in the timing and magnitude of maximum Cs-133 concentrations in the species sampled.