137Cs, 226, 228Ra, 210Pb and 40K concentrations in Antarctic soil, sediment and selected moss and lichen samples

During the summers of 1986, 1988 and 1992, soil, sediment, lichen and moss samples were collected near the Brazilian Antarctic station, Comandante Ferraz, King George Island, South Shetland Archipelago, and also in other South Shetland Islands. The content of 137Cs and of natural radionuclides were determined by gamma spectrometry. Highest 137Cs levels were found in the lichen and moss samples, with mean values of (15±14) and (23±14) Bq kg-1dry, respectively. Particularly in soil, the 226Ra and 228Ra contents were much higher for the samples from King George Island than for those from the other islands of the same archipelago. Based on its content in soil, the 137Cs inventory for the 60-70°S latitude band was estimated at 143 Bq m2, which agrees with the literature data.