The ecogeochemical role of forest fires in the Baikal region

A study is made of the behavior of artificial radionuclides and heavy metals during a forest fire. It is shown that forest fires are accompanied by airborne migration of some heavy metals and artificial radionucleides as well as by pollution of new areas. The main depositories of elements falling out of the atmosphere are provided by forest litter, mosses, lichens, and tree needles. Up to 40% of 137Cs and 90Sr can migrate from the sites of fires, which originally were contained in the soil-vegetation cover. The elements that are carried away from the sites of fires partly deposit themselves on adjacent areas.