This publication addresses the sampling of soil and vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems, including agricultural, forest and urban environments, contaminated with radionuclides from events such as radiation accidents, radiological incidents and former nuclear activities. It considers sampling strategies and programmes, which are relevant for both emergency and existing exposure situations. Practical advice is provided on the design and implementation of sampling programmes for soil and vegetation within the framework of environmental monitoring. Examples of best practice on the formulation of optimized sampling strategies for different exposure situations are given based on the experience and lessons learned from implementation of past and existing programmes.

The public hearings on The Nature of Radioactive Fallout and Its Effects on Man had their origin in studies initiated over a year ago -- in July 1956 -- by the staff of the Joint Committee on the general subject of long-term radiation hazards, both from the military and peacetime atomic energy program. During the summer recess, following the conclusion of the 84th Congress, the staff assembled background materials on fallout, with primary emphasis on the research aspects. Following official announcement of the hearings in March of this year a detailed technical outline describing the proposed scope and subject matter of the hearings was prepared by the staff. On April 18, 1957, a Special Subcommittee on Radiation under the chairmanship of Representative Chet Holifield of California was established to conduct the hearings and to look into radiation problems in general. The hearings, which were all open to the public, were held on May 27-29 and June 3-7, and covered the major aspects of the fallout problem from its inception in nuclear weapons explosions to its effects on man. In all, some 50 witnesses either appeared personally before the committee or submitted statements for the record. The staff has prepared a summary analysis of the hearings which is aimed at pointing up the more significant information which emerged from the hearings. This analysis does not cover all points that were discussed in the hearings. An effort was made to describe the general areas of agreement which developed and to delineate those areas in which unresolved questions still exist. - Foreword.

This book provides extensive and comprehensive knowledge to the researchers/academics who are working in the field of cesium contaminated sites, and the impact on plants. This book is also helpful for graduate and undergraduate students who are specializing in radioecology or safe disposal of radioactive waste, remediation of legacies and the impact on the environment. Radiocesium (137Cs and 134Cs) was released into the environment as a result of nuclear weapons testing in 1950s and 1960s (~1x1018 Bq), and later due to the Chernobyl accident in 1986 (8.5x1016 Bq) and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011 (~1x1017 Bq). 137Cs is still of relevance due to its half-life of 30 years. The study of radioisotope 137Cs is important, as production and emission rates are high compared to other radioisotopes, due to high fission yield and high volatility. This book contains original work and reviews on how cesium is released into the environment on translocation from soil to plants and further on to animals and into the human food chain. Separate chapters focus on the effective half-life of cesium in plants and on how different cultivars are responding in accumulation of cesium. Other key chapters focus on cesium impact on single cells to higher plants and also on remediation measures as well as on basic mechanism used for remedial options and analysis of transfer factors. The book rounds off by contributions on cesium uptake and translocation and its toxicity in plants after the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents.