APPLICATION OF A DROPLET-PIXE SYSTEM TO STUDY RADIATION EFFECTS ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING

Droplet PIXE analysis was applied to the study of radiation effects on soil ecosystem functioning. A paddy soil sample was flooded with well water to prepare soil ecosystem specimens (microcosms), and then the microcosms were chronically exposed to gamma rays at a dose rate of 1 Gy day−1 for 5 days. After the final irradiation, a brownish discoloration was observed in the liquid phases of the irradiated microcosms.To clarify the factors causing the discoloration, minerals in the solutions of the microcosms were analyzed by the droplet PIXE system.Elemental profiles from the XRF spectrum showed marked iron peaks. Exposure of microcosms to gamma rays resulted in a decrease in the iron levels. Since iron is released in the form of Fe(II) from the solid soil to the liquid phase, further determination of the Fe (II) levels was performed. The percentages of Fe (II) to the total iron in the liquid phase of the irradiated microcosms were lower than those of the controls. This result may be caused by the change of Fe species from soluble Fe (II) to insoluble Fe (III) during gamma irradiation, and the Fe (III) species with a brownish color may be associated with the discoloration of the irradiated samples. The conversion from soluble to insoluble forms may also contribute the small amount of dissolved iron in the irradiated microcosms. Iron is an essential trace nutrient for plants, and thus the amount of dissolved iron is one aspect of ecosystem functioning. Effects of gamma radiation on the dissolved iron could involve a change in the soil ecosystem through the depression of iron flux in the long term.