Author(s):
1. Srđan Vuković, Faculty of Technology - University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Svetlana Pelemiš, Faculty of Technology - University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Danijela Vuković, Faculty of Technology - University of East Sarajevo, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. Aleksandar Vuković, Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Fakultet zehničkih nauka, Serbia

Abstract:
Cesium-137 (137Cs) is one of the most significant long-lived anthropogenic radionuclides in the environment. As a nuclear fission product with a physical half-life of approximately 30.2 years, it entered the biosphere primarily through atmospheric nuclear weapons testing, controlled releases from nuclear facilities, and nuclear accidents, among which Chernobyl and Fukushima stand out in terms of scale and consequences. The aim of this review is to synthesize current knowledge on the sources, atmospheric transport, deposition, migration, bioavailability, and transfer of 137Cs in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The behavior of 137Cs following deposition is determined by its physicochemical form, precipitation, soil and sediment properties, hydrological processes, and the time elapsed since contamination. In mineral soils, the Cs+ ion binds strongly to clay minerals, particularly illite, thereby reducing its mobility and availability to plants. In soils with a low clay content and a high proportion of organic matter, it may remain bioavailable for a longer period. Its redistribution is facilitated by vertical migration, erosion, surface runoff, and particle transport. Owing to its chemical similarity to potassium, 137Cs is taken up by plants, microorganisms, and fungi, while its transfer to higher trophic levels occurs primarily through the consumption of contaminated food. Potassium deficiency enhances its uptake, whereas the application of potassium fertilizers generally reduces soil-to-plant transfer. In aquatic systems, 137Cs binds to suspended particles and sediments, from which it may be remobilized when environmental conditions change.

Key words:
Cesium-137,radioecology,radionuclide migration

Thematic field:
SYMPOSIUM A - Science of matter, condensed matter and physics of solid states

Date of abstract submission:
07.08.2026.

Conference:
Contemporary Materials 2026 - Savremeni Materijali

Applied paper from author