Potential for phytoextraction of137 Cs from a contaminated soil

Potential for phytoremediation of a soil contaminated with radiocesium was investigated in three phases: (1) hydroponic screening for plant species capable of accumulating elevated levels of cesium in shoots, (2) investigation of several amendments for their potential to increase the bioavailability of ¹³⁷Cs in the contaminated soil, and (3) bioaccumulation of radiocesium in shoots of plants grown in¹³⁷ Cs-contaminated soil.The bioaccumulation ratio for Cs in shoots of hydroponically grown plants ranged between 38 and 165. From solution, dicot species accumulated 2- to 4-fold more cesium in shoots than grasses. In studies investigating the bioavailability of ¹³⁷Cs in aged contaminated soil, ammonium salts were found to be the most effective desorbing agents, releasing approximately 25% of the¹³⁷ Cs. The extent of ¹³⁷Cs desorption from the soil increased with ammonium concentration up to 0.2 M. In a pot study conducted in a greenhouse, there was significant species-dependent variability in the ability to accumulate ¹³⁷Cs in the shoot from contaminated soil. The ability to accumulate ¹³⁷Cs from the soil increased in the order: reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) < Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) < tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)< cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata). It was also found that addition of NH₄NO₃ solution to the soil elicited a two- to twelve-fold increase in ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in the shoot. The greatest amount of ¹³⁷Cs (40 Bq g^-1 dw) was removed in shoots of cabbage grown in contaminated soil amended with 80 mmols NH₄NO₃ kg^-1 soil. Bioaccumulation ratios of 2–3 were obtained with the best performing plant species. These values are significantly greater than those previously reported in the literature (usually <0.1) for plants grown on aged contaminated soil. These results indicate that careful species selection along with amendments that increase the bioavailability of¹³⁷ Cs in the soil could greatly enhance the prospects for the use of plants to remediate ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated soils.     

The accumulation of radionuclides 137Cs and 90Sr by different kinds and grades legumes crops

The decision of protein problem on contaminated by radionuclides territories as a result of the accident on Chernobyl NPP is not possible without increase of the sowing areas legumes crops (peas, lupine, soybean). Introduction in agricultural manufacture of grades with a low level of accumulation radionuclides (peas--Aist, Polesskay, Gomelskay Agat; soybean--Severnaya zvezda, Mageva) will allow to receive agricultural production adequate "Republican allowable levels of the contents of 137Cs and 90Sr in agricultural raw material and forages" on arable lands at their higher density of radioactive contamination: 137Cs--1300-1480 kBq/m2 (35.0-40.0 Ci/km2): 90Sr--18.5-37.0 kBq/m2 (0.50-1.00 Ci/km2).     

Comparison of the accumulation of 137Cs and 90Sr by six spring wheat varieties

The uptake of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr by six varieties of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) was compared in field trials on land contaminated by the Chernobyl accident. All the experimental varieties are officially adopted for agricultural use in Belarus and are used in large-scale production. Under identical conditions of nutrition, the productivity of the varieties varied significantly by a factor of 1.3. The extent of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr accumulation by wheat grain, quantified as the concentration ratio, differed between the varieties by as much as a factor of 1.6, for both radionuclides. There was a significant linear positive correlation between the ⁹⁰Sr activity concentration in grain and straw, and the calcium concentration. The correlation between ¹³⁷Cs and potassium was not significant. The results suggest that certain varieties of spring wheat used in normal agricultural practice accumulate less ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr into grain than others. Some spring wheat varieties accumulated relatively less ¹³⁷Cs, but did not accumulate less ⁹⁰Sr. One variety, Quattro, had a significantly lower uptake of both ⁹⁰Sr (for grain) and ¹³⁷Cs (for both grain and straw) than that of the other varieties tested. The reduction efficiency achieved by the use of these varieties, however, is not as high as that achieved by soil amelioration techniques in the past. Nevertheless, since there are no additional costs or production losses associated with these varieties, their use in the contaminated areas is worth considering as a simple, practical, and effective contribution to reducing the uptake of both ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs and allowing farmers to produce food-grade grain.     

137Cs and 90Sr distribution peculiarities in soil and accumulation by pine tree wood and bark depending on edaphotops

The range of researches was made on 137Cs and 90Sr distribution regularities in pine tree plantations depending on different edaphic conditions. It is shown that total radionuclide amount in the forest litter depends on its thickness and is thought to be 10 to 70% for 137Cs and 20 to 60% for 90Sr. When soil fertility come increases from trophotop "A" to "C", 137Cs and 90Sr transfer factors for wood reduce. Soil humidity increase for each grade of trophic net results in increase of 137Cs transfer factors to wood and decrease for 90Sr. Total activity of 37Cs and 90Sr in pine wood plantation depends on plantation productivity and radionuclide transfer factors depending on different plantation conditions. In the most prevailing edaphotops pine wood accumulates 1-3% of 137Cs and 6-11% of 90Sr from total activity of radionuclides in biogeocenosis.     

The dependence of accumulation of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides in the forages cultivation degree of sod-podzolic soils

For prognosis of accumulation of 137Cs and 90Sr in forages harvested in radionuclide contaminated sod-podzolic soils, it is suggested to use transfer factors (TF9a) (Bq/kg)/(kBq/m2)) established not only by the content of mobile potassium (137Cs, r = -0.53) and the value of exchange acidity (90Sr, r = -0.73), but also by the index of agrochemical soil cultivation I(cd) (137Cs, r = -0.69; 90Sr, r = -0.64). The possibility of obtaining forages conforming to the state standards on the haymaking and pasture areas with high density of radioactive contamination of soils was shown by the example of Sudkovo collective farm. The approach is based on achievement of a high degree of cultivation (l(cd) - 0.81-1.0) due to a complex of protective measures, which resulted in a 10-fold decrease in the specific activity of 137Cs and a 4-fold decrease in the activity of 90Sr, compared to the soils with a low degree of cultivation (I(cd) - 0.41-0.60).     

The transfer of 90Sr and of 137Cs radionuclides in the chain of soil-fodder-animal products in the area contaminated as a consequence of the Chernobyl AES accident

The database on 137Cs and or 90Sr transfer factors in the soil-fodder-animal products chain compiled in the framework of the project "Radioecological Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident" under the French-German Initiative was analyzed. The 137Cs transfer factors were determined into 10 fodder types for farm animals. The 137Cs and 90Sr transfer from daily diet to milk is practically independent from milk yield and season and is about 0.83% and 0.16%. 137Cs transfer factor into beef (adult animals) is about to 2.4% from the daily uptake with fodder per 1 kg meat.     

Determination of soil-to-plant transfer factors of 137Cs and 90Sr in the tropical environment of Bangladesh

Soil-to-plant transfer factors (TF) of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr have been determined for different plants/crops, such as rice, beans, peanuts, pineapple, cabbage, tomato, spinach and grass. They were obtained from radioisotope experiments on plants grown in pots under outdoor ambient tropical conditions for three growing seasons (1994–1996). In the case of ¹³⁷Cs and concerning the above mentioned plants/crops, the average TFs were found to be 0.28, 0.25, 0.77, 0.19, 0.23, 0.28, 0.59 and 0.18, respectively. In the case of ⁹⁰Sr, the average TFs were found to be 0.82, 0.51, 0.20, 0.82, 0.69, 0.59, 0.91 and 0.84, respectively. A minor seasonal variation was observed. This study provides a database of TFs for tropical environments to be used, e.g., for radiological safety assessment models. Received: 14 October 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 9 February 1998     

137Cs and 90Sr accumulation in birch wood (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in regions with different soil conditions

The studies of 137Cs and 90Sr accumulation characteristics by birch wood (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in different edaphic conditions. Were conducted was stated that the increase in soil fertility from trophotops A to D results in 5-fold 137Cs transfer factor decrease and 2-fold decrease of 90Sr. Soil humidity increase for each grade of trophic net results happens the increase of 137Cs transfer factors to wood and decrease for 90Sr. Total activity of 37Cs and 90Sr in birch wood plantation depends on plantation productivity and on radionuclide transfer factors depending on different plantation conditions. In the most prevailing edaphotops (B2, B3, C2 and C3) birch wood accumulates 0.6-1.2% of 137Cs and 13-19% of 90Sr from total activity of radionuclides in biogeocenosis.     

The geterogenity of 137Cs and 90Sr distribution and dose loading on critical tissues of main seedling root

It is shown, that the roots of plants concentrate 137Cs and 90Sr from water solutions in different zones: 137Cs--mainly in a meristem zone, 90Sr--in a stretching zone. The similar character of radionuclide distribution was established regarding water and soil cultures. The real dose loading on critical tissues of main root have appeared to be much higher than it was expected from the assumption of uniform distribution of radionuclides in tissues.     

Prognosis of accumulation of 137Cs and 90Sr in the herbage of the main types of the Belarus Polessje meadows using agrochemical soil properties

On the basis of long-term stationary experience it was established that the minimum accumulation quantities for 137Cs and 90Sr in the herbage of the dry, lowland and flood-plain types of the Belarus Polessje meadows contaminated with Chemobyl radionuclides are determined when the optimum of basic agrochemical soil properties is achieved with application of the scientifically reasonable protective measures. For remote prognosis of radionuclide contents in natural and cultural meadow herbage the use of transfer factors (TFa, (Bq/kg)(kBq/m2)) based on the complex agrochemical parameters--agrochemical cultivation soil index (Icd) and basic saturation degree (V, %), which take into account some soil characteristics simultaneously, is a streamlined approach. This paper provides the equations of linear and multiple regressions, which can be used to calculate the transfer factors for 137Cs and 90Sr uptake and the herbage contamination degree for the main types of meadows of the region, that will allow reducing the volume of forage production (hay, green bulk), which is not adequate to established permissible levels: "Republican allowable levels of the contents of 137Cs and 90Sr in agricultural raw material and forages".     

Disparity in 90Sr and 137Cs uptake in Alpine plants: phylogenetic effect and Ca and K availability

Background and aims

Uptake of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in plants varies widely between soil types and between plant species. It is now recognized that the radionuclide uptake in plants is more influenced by site-specific and plant-specific parameters rather than the bulk radionuclide concentration in soil. We hypothesized that the stress which Alpine plants experience because of the short growing season may enhance the phylogenetic effect on the ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr transfer factors as well as the dependency of the uptake by plant to the concentrations of exchangeable Ca and K of soils.

Methods

We carried out a field study on the ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs uptake by 11 species of Alpine plants growing on 6 undisturbed and geochemically different soils in the Alpine valley of Piora, Switzerland.

Results

Results show that a strong correlation exists between the log TF and the log of exchangeable Ca or K of the soils.

Conclusions

Cs uptake by Phleum rhaeticum (Poales) and Alchemilla xanthochlora (Rosales) is more sensitive to the amount of exchangeable K in the soil than the corresponding uptake by other orders. Moreover, the ⁹⁰Sr results indicate a phylogenetic effect between Non-Eudicot and Eudicots: the order Poales (Phleum rhaeticum) concentrating much less ⁹⁰Sr than Eudicots do.     

Quantitative evaluation of 90Sr, 137Cs, 239Pu, 241Am transfer from polluted soil to gastric and intestine juice of cows

Quantitative parameters of 90Sr, 137Cs, 239Pu and 241Am transfer from solid phase of soil to gastric, intestine juice of cows as well as to imitating solutions have been estimated on the base of results of laboratory incubation experiments. A prevailing role of enzyme complex and microflora of gastrointestinal tract in radionuclides transfer from solid phase of soil to solution has been shown.     

Dependences of 137Cs and 90Sr concentration ratios in fish on the potassium and calcium concentrations in the freshwater reservoirs

Activities of 137Cs and 90Sr, concentrations of the potassium and calcium ions in water and accumulation of the radionuclides in the organisms of various freshwater fish have been measured in the stagnant and semistagnant water reservoirs of Ukraine contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident. On the basis of the numerous experimental data for different regions the statistical parameters were derived describing the dependencies of the 137Cs and 90Sr concentration ratios in the muscle tissue of various fish species on the potassium and calcium concentrations in water, respectively.     

The analysis of coefficient of 137Cs transfer from soil into potato in relationship with 137Cs content in soil and plant mineral feed

The soil-potato transfer factor for 137Cs (TF) was estimated by using results of 137Cs activity concentration measurements in 214 samples of soil and potato taken at fields with various level of contamination with 137Cs. The relationships between the coefficient TF and soil characteristics (acidity pH (KCl), content of K2O, P2O5, CaO and MgO in soil) and soil contamination with 137Cs have been analysed. The results show that the TF values tend to decrease with increasing concentration of 137Cs, K2O, P2O5, and CaO in considered sod-podsolic sandyloam soil. The regression function describing the TF dependence of 137Cs, K2O, P2O5, and CaO content in soil has been derived.     

The estimation of 90Sr and 137Cs excretion parameters from the organism of wild and laboratory small mammals in vivo, after natural contamination of them in the Chernobyl zone

In the course of laboratory experiment, parameters of 90Sr and 137Cs excretion were estimated in individuals of bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus, captured at one of the most contaminated sites of the Chernobyl zone. The animals were kept under laboratory conditions using "clean" feed during 50 days. The similar investigation was carried out with laboratory mice Mus musculus (Big Blue line) during a longer period (184 days). The measurements of 90Sr content in the animals' body were in vivo carried out, using a specially designed beta-spectrometer with appropriate software, and 137Cs one--by the gamma-spectrometer. During the experiment, the animals had lost less 0.4% of activity due to physical decay of radionuclides. The organism was depurated mainly through biological excretion. In accordance with parameters of one-component exponential decay equation, 99.3% of 137Cs initial content in vole was excreted with half-life period of 2.18 days, and mice--4.4 days (99%). 90Sr excretion had longer half-life period: 11.7 days (56%) in voles, and 49.9 days (87%) in laboratory mice. The rest radionuclides amount of given model was considered as non-excreted from the organism during the observation period. It was determined on the example of voles that 90Sr and 137Cs loss in males was faster than in females, and among females more intensive excretion was in lactating females. 137Cs excretion from the body of bank vole is mainly with urine (74.7%), whereas 90Sr one--with feces and urine in approximately equal amounts. Due to the birth of babies and consequent feeding female lose appreciably less amount of radionuclides body burden than at daily loss with urine and feces.     

The carrying-out of 90Sr and 137Cs by the overground phytomass plant communities of the meadows and of the fallow lands of Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Below are presented the results of the researches of the carrying-out of 90Sr and 137Cs by the overground phytomass of the fallow lands and meadows herbaceous community of Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Zone). The radioecological characteristic of the basic cenosis-generative species of the Zone's fallow lands and meadows herbaceous communities is given. Are made the evaluations of the biogenic fluxes of the radioactive matters into structural elements of the mentioned phytocenosises (alive biomass and laying). The radioecological significance of the Zone's herbaceous phytocenosis is presented as one of the bariers on the ways of the carrying-out of the radioactive nuclides out of the borders of the zone.     

90Sr and 137Cs in higher aquatic plants of some water basins on the East-Urals Radioactive Trace: species features of radionuclide concentration

The paper summarizes the results from radioecological studies of a number of water basins located on the East-Urals Radioactive Trace (EURT), as exemplified by the lakes Large Ighish, Small Ighish and Shablish which are included in the medium-distance and remote zone of the EURT. The lake Misyash which is situated in the opposite direction from the release vector and has been only contaminated due to global fallouts has been used as a control water basin. The current species composition of the high aquatic plants and species-specific concentration of 90Sr and 137Cs in them was studied, also, the radionuclide accumulation and discrimination coefficients were estimated.