Assessment of the effects of physical–chemical parameters on 210Po and 210Pb concentrations in cultivated and uncultivated soil from different areas

In this study, a total of 144 bulk soil samples were collected in cultivated and uncultivated sites in different areas for evaluation of the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb. Moreover, 4 core samples were collected from four distinct reference points in the Gediz Basin in Turkey and investigated organic matter content, 210Po and 210Pb concentrations depending on the depth. The activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were measured by means of alpha spectrometry. While the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in cultivated sites are in the ranges of 12 ± 3–86 ± 4 Bq kg− 1 dw and 17 ± 3–36 ± 3 Bq kg− 1 dw, for uncultivated sites the ranges for 210Po and 210Pb are 10 ± 4–134 ± 21 Bq kg− 1 dw and 23 ± 3–78 ± 5 Bq kg− 1 dw, respectively. In general, it is observed that the mean 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in cultivated sites are lower than the uncultivated sites. The relationships between soil properties and the activity concentrations of the radionuclides indicate that 210Po and 210Pb adsorption to soil is strongly related to organic matter content of the soil.