HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mc Farlane, J. C. Articles by Brown, K. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Mc Farlane, J. C. Articles by Brown, K. W. Agricola Articles by Mc Farlane, J. C. Articles by Brown, K. W.

Tritium in Plants¹

ABSTRACT

This is a review of literature regarding the fate and consequence of tritium in plants. Concepts and terminologies commonly used in plant-water relations are generally adequate to describe tritium kinetics in plants. Isotopic fractionation between tritium and stable hydrogen occurs in many plant-mediated processes and may result in about a 20% depletion in plant organics. Possiblerrors in tritium studies result from hydrogen exchange and fractionation during sample collection, storage, preparation, and analysis. Potential pitfalls encountered in laboratory and field studies are pointed out and illustrated. Original research data are used to illustrate specific processes.

Key Words: isotopic fractionation • hydrogen • plant physiology • radioactive isotopes • pollutant pathways

¹ USEPA Environ. Monit. and Support Lab., Las Vegas, NV 89114.

² Plant Physiologist, Research Chemist, and Botanist, respectively.

Received for publication February 24, 1978.