Behaviour of radiocaesium in a forest in the eastern Italian Alps

Radiocaesium behaviour has been studied in soil in a mixed forest located in the Carnic Alps (eastern part of Italy). Soil sampling along the vertical profile was carried out from October 1988 to October 1991. The results obtained show a very slow radiocaesium migration through the organic layers and indicate that after the fallout events, the radiocaesium isotopes deposited on the forest floor remain confined in the holorganic horizons for a long time.