Activity concentration of radionuclides in plants in the environment of Western Ghats

238 U, 232 Th, 40 K and fallout radionuclides 210 Po in different plant species in tropical forest of western Ghats environment, India, is presented. Material and Methods: The Top storey, Short storey, Shrubs and Epiphytic plant species were sampled and concentration of these radionuclides in plant and soil were measured by employing a gamma ray spectrometer and an alpha counter. Results: The soil-plant concentration ratio shows the variation of radionuclide accumulation in different species while a wild plant Elaeocarpus oblongus and epiphytic plants indicated preferential uptake of these radionuclides. Conclusion: The dust particles dust trapped in the root system of epiphytic plants could be used as bioindicator to monitor fallout radionuclides in the Western Ghats. The concentration of 232 Th and 40 K in leaves depends on the age of the leaves