Eco-phytomonitoring in ensuring radiological safety of urban buildings

Abstract

In the future, the use of nuclear energy in national economy will rise. After accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, staff of Fukushima 1 pay special attention to the safety of reactors, however, emergency situations are still possible. Eco-monitoring in natural and urban environments is carried out in order to determine the level of ecological pollution, including radioactive pollution. Therefore, studies in that direction are relevant and their relevancy is only increasing over the years. The aim of this study is to research migration and accumulation of 90Sr in vegetative and generative plant organs: cherry-plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh) tree and stone fruit species, gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) shrub. Objectives: 1) applying 90SrCl2 to the soil, imitating precipation (field experiments); 2) planting: Prunus cerasifera Ehrh; Ribes uva-crispa into artificially polluted by 90SrCl2 soil; 3) growing and monitoring of studied plants in the artificially polluted by 90SrCl2 soil. The level of pollution of experiment field reached 500 MBq/m2. The accumulation of 90Sr in vegetative and generative organs of trees (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh) and shrubs (Ribes uva-crispa) was researched. Experimental plots have been laid according to methodic of Dospekhov B.A. Measurements of beta-emitting nuclides activity in samples have been made using the “Progress” software on the USK “Gamma Plus” (beta-path) device. As the result of research it has been found that both plant species have been accumulating nuclides. In 2016 cherry-plum accumulated 90Sr in the bark, wood, leaves and fruits 2.0, 2.1, 2.6 and 2.6 times more accordingly than the gooseberry. As a result of the experiment, material, that can be used in eco-monitoring, was obtained to provide nuclear safety of urban properties in the territories, allocated for the construction of public and residential buildings.