Our article deals with the accumulation of artificial (¹³⁷Cs) and natural (⁴⁰K) radionuclides in the segments of carrots (Daucus carota L.), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), beet (Beta vulgaris L.), and head cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.). The main physical properties of soils and their possible impact on the specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in vegetables have been determined. The specific activities of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in the soil and vegetable segments were measured; transfer (TF) and ¹³⁷Cs discrimination (DF) factors were identified.
It was determined that artificial radionuclide ¹³⁷Cs transfer factors from the soil to vegetable segments were subject to fluctuate from 0.02 to 0.39. The accumulation of natural radionuclide ⁴⁰K in vegetable segments is almost three times more intensive than that of artificial ¹³⁷Cs – the values of the ⁴⁰K transfer factor varied from 0.06 to 1.32. The ¹³⁷Cs discrimination factor (DF) in vegetable segments ranged from 0.01 to 1.07.