Accumulation of artificial radionuclides in agricultural plants in the area used for surface nuclear tests

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity 2014-11, Vol.137, p.217-226
• Main Authors: Kozhakhanov, T.E., Lukashenko, S.N., Larionova, N.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation factors (Fν); Agricultural plants; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Crops, Agricultural - metabolism; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Kazakhstan; Nuclear Weapons; Radiation Monitoring; Radioactive contamination; Radionuclides; Soil and water pollution; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive - metabolism; Soil science; The activity concentration (AC)
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.06.026

The paper reports on the study of artificial radionuclide accumulation in agricultural crops grown at the territory with high concentration of radionuclides, and first of all – with high concentration of transuranium elements. As a result of this work, peculiarities of accumulation and distribution of artificial radionuclides in the vegetative and generative organs of the studied plants have been revealed. Basic accumulation factors have been found for 137Cs, 90Sr, 239+240Pu, and 241Am in agricultural products. Accumulation factor dependence on type of planting was found for the investigated types of plants. It has been found that the vegetative organs accumulate radionuclides most of all. •The experiment with plants was performed under natural conditions in the area of ground nuclear explosions at “Experimental field” site of the Semipalatinsk test site.•Nature of radionuclides distribution in different plant organs has been revealed.•Main accumulation factors for 137Cs, 90Sr, 239+240Pu and 241Am have been obtained for the crop products.•Obtained results are of particular importance in the issues related to assessments of radiological environmental contamination and its consequences.