Consequences of 137Cs and 90Sr accumulation in plants after a manmade disaster at the Chernobyl NPP

Abstract

The aim of the work was to synthesize and analyze the results of scientific studies on the accumulation and migration of radionuclides within the «soil-plant» biological chain in order to reduce the negative effects under the enhanced technogenesis. The given data enable to predict pre-suppressed and mutagenic effects on trees and crops for many generations in order to assess the risk of migration of man-made radionuclides into agricultural products, as well as to use coniferous plants as the most sensitive bioindicator when contaminated soil, plants, and landscapes with radionuclides. The results of scientific studies on the Chornobyl originated 137Cs and 90Sr incorporation with the plant cell and their carry-over effect while the migration to agricultural products almost 33 years after the disaster have been highlighted. The regulatory mechanisms of radionuclide accumulation in a plant cell and plant protection mechanisms have been analyzed. It was established that the plants resistance to radionuclides depends on the antioxidant plant systems, the value of the ion exchange rate, the number of histidyl proteins and carboxyl groups placed on the surface of pectins; conditioned by specific molecular and physiological mechanisms for both a particular plant species and an entire taxonomic group. In the conditions of intensified technogenesis and its consequences, the main task of the agro-industry is to stabilize and protect against trophic chains from contamination and the food production with a minimum level of radionuclides contamination. Low level of radionuclides contamination of plants is a feature of their evolutionary adaptation to environmental conditions. The growth of the chemical composition stability of plants and their independence from the geochemical environment fluctuations is an important principle of the progressive-nature evolution.