Transfer of radiocesium from the upper part of rice plants after treatment at different growth stages

This study investigated the effect of Cs-137 absorbed from the upper part (surface of leaves and husk) of rice plants and its accumulation in grains. Cesium-137 content in brown rice plants sprayed with Cs-137 onto the plant surface before ear emergence, flowering, and grain filling stages were 5, 109, and 76 Bq/kg, respectively. Comparison of Cs-137 concentration between mature and immature grains revealed that brown rice can easily absorb Cs-137 at the beginning of grain filling.