Bromine Accumulation in Some Crops and Grasses as Determined by Neutron Activation Analysis

Till now information on bromine (Br) in the environment is still incomplete. The purposes of this research were the following: to study accumulation of Br in plants grown under different environmental conditions and to assess the factors controlling Br uptake by different plant species when the plants grow in soil uncontaminated with Br. For the determination of Br and other elements, neutron activation analysis was used. This method allows for determining a wide range of elements in various samples with high sensitivity and accuracy. Model tests and greenhouse experiments demonstrated different abilities of plants to uptake Br from various media and transfer it from roots to upper plant parts. It was shown that the main source of Br for a plant was soil. As a result of the plant growth concentration of Br in the rhizosphere soil decreased. The characteristics of soil have a pronounced effect on the Br uptake by plants.