Effect of tritium on the morpho-anatomical structure of the common reed (Phragmites australis)

«Radiation and Risk», 2021, vol. 30, No. 2, pp.133-145

DOI: 10.21870/0131-3878-2021-30-2-133-145

Authors

Yankauskas A.B. – Engineer. Contacts: 2 Beybit-Atom str., Kurchatov, East Kazakhstan region, Republic of Kazakhstan, 071100. Tel.: 8(72251) 3-29-3; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Larionova N.V. – Scientific Secretary, C. Sc., Biol.
Shatrov A.N. – Head of Lab. Branch IRSE NNC RK.
Branch «Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology» National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article presents the results of research on the morpho-anatomical structure of the plants growing under chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. The research was conducted in the territory of the Semipalatinsk test site in the vicinity of the Shagan river. The radioecological situation in the study area is determined by the presence of the long-lived radionuclides ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ^239+240Pu in components comprising the natural environment. The main contributor to the radioactive contamination of the nature components is ³H. The findings of the study show that when ³H specific activity in the free water of the common reed grass increases to nx10³-nx10⁵ Bq/kg, some anatomical parameters of its cane and leaf are reduced. The study also shows that with the increase in tritium specific activity from nx10² to nx10⁵ Bq/kg the anatomical parameters of the cane (sclerenchyma, cane diameter) decrease. When the specific activity of tritium increases to nx10⁴ Bq/kg, the leaf anatomical parameters are reduced. When specific activity of ³H increases to nx10⁵ Bq/kg there is the general tendency to the insignificant increase in anatomical parameters.

Key words
cane, Semipalatinsk test site, morpho-anatomical parameters of sugarcane, common reed (Phragmites australis), ionizing radiation, radionuclide pollution, tritium, specific activity.

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