The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale

Vanheukelom, Margot; Haenen, Nina; Almahayni, Talal; Sweeck, Lieve; Weyns, Nancy; Van Hees, May; Smolders, Erik

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-339-2025

Articles | Volume 11, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-339-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-339-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 11, issue 1

Original research article

| Highlight paper

|

29 Apr 2025

Original research article | Highlight paper |

| 29 Apr 2025

The clay mineralogy rather than the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils on a global scale

Margot Vanheukelom, Nina Haenen, Talal Almahayni, Lieve Sweeck, Nancy Weyns, May Van Hees, and Erik Smolders

Data sets

Vanheukelom2025_XRD-pattern Margot Vanheukelom https://doi.org/10.17632/nr4f6s23k6.1

Executive editor

This article demonstrates that soil mineralogy, not just clay content, determines the radiocaesium interception potential of soils, i.e. the absorption of 137Cs and hence its bioavailability. It, therefore, highlights the need for recalibration of existing 137Cs bioavailability models to predict regional contamination risk, but also the need for more careful soil analysis at the regional scale.

Short summary

Radiocaesium (¹³⁷Cs) in soil poses long-term risks of entering the food chain after nuclear accidents. This study examined its binding in soils with contrasting properties, questioning the concept that clay content controls the fate of ¹³⁷Cs. Instead, soil mineralogy, such as illite content, plays a greater role. Soil structure also affects its availability as isolated soil fractions do not fully reflect intact soils. These findings improve predictions of ¹³⁷Cs bioavailability in diverse soils.