Possible use of terrestrial mosses in detection of atmospheric deposition of 7Be over large areas

The activities of naturally occurring radionuclides Be-7, Bi-214 and (210)pb were measured in samples of terrestrial mosses collected in Serbia (42 degrees 26'19"N-45 degrees 23'12"N). The objective of this work was to establish if detectable amounts of Be-7 and (210)pb can be found in mosses and investigate their possible variabilities over some area. These are the first steps in introducing mosses as a medium in possible monitoring of spatial distribution of Be-7 atmospheric deposition. The mean value of 360 Bq/kg of Be-7 activity was found in collected moss samples and some nonuniformity in spatial distribution (a 2.8-fold range in measured values) was observed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.