Radionuclide interception

An example of a highly efficient interception system is the canopy of a coniferous forest. The large specific surface area of pine and spruce trees exceeds that of broadleaved deciduous trees, giving them a high scavenging efficiency for radioactive aerosol particles. Pine needles have been acknowledged as useful monitors of atmospheric pollution (Eriksson et al., 1989). However, radionuclides will be redistributed in the forest ecosystem due to various removal mechanisms such as rain... 

The second effect of an overlying water pool (or due to cool-down) is to form a solidified crust at the surface of core debris interacting with concrete. This crust will certainly eliminate aerosol generation by melt entrainment in gases sparging through the core debris. It may also act to trap by interception and by impaction particles produced by vaporisation and condensation of volatile debris constituents. Quantitative assessments of the effects of the crustal material on radionuclide release during core debris interactions with concrete have not been reported. 

---