Natural and man–made radionuclide concentrations in lichens at several locations in Austria

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Abstract
Regions of elevated natural radioactivity (Gastein–valley, Waldviertel) were compared to regions of low natural radioactivity (surroundings of Salzburg City). The natural radionuclides 238U, 40K and 7Be and the man–made nuclides 137Cs, 144Ce, 95Ze95Nb were measured by gamma ray spectrometry. No statistically significant difference was found between samples of the Gastein–valley, Waldviertel, Salzburg, Grossarl and Dachstein concerning the content of natural radionuclides. The amount of the short–lived fission products 144Ce, 95Zr–95Nb as well as of the natural 7Be increased with altitude. The specific nuclide concentration varies with species but was almost independent of growth form and substrate.