Cytogenetic abnormalities in aquatic plant Elodea canadensis in anthropogenic contamination zone of Yenisei River

Chromosome abnormalities in ana-telophase cells of apical root meristem of aquatic plant Elodea. canadensis (elodea), sampled in 2011–2012 in the Yenisei River at a site with background level of contamination and at several sites on the stretch contaminated with artificial radionuclides, and with chemical pollutants from municipal and industrial discharges of the Krasnoyarsk city. Lowest rate (5.2%) of cells with chromosome abnormalities was registered at sampling site with background level of contamination upstream of the Krasnoyarsk, highest rate of cells with abnormalities (39.7%)—in roots of elodea sampled in bottom sediments with highest concentration of ¹³⁷Cs. Sum of rates of cells with abnormalities and rates of cells with all types of abnormalities positively correlated with total concentration of artificial and natural radionuclides, with concentration of artificial radionuclides and ¹³⁷Cs in bottom sediments of the Yenisei River (r ² = 0.91–0.96, p < 0.0005 for sum of rates of cells with abnormalities; r ² = 0.58–0.92, p < 0.05 for all types of abnormalities).