A new mechanism for hot particle development in soil following ionic contamination with radiocesium.

The development of hot particles was observed in a pure quartz sand as well as in "Ea" horizon material from a humo ferric podzol after ionic contamination with radiocesium. Therefore, fallout that contaminates soil with radiocesium in an ionic form can lead to the formation of hot particles for which health impact must be assessed differently compared to homogeneously contaminated soil.