Uptake of Radionuclides by Bryophytes in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

ABSTRACT: The "Chernobyl nuclear disaster" released huge amounts of radionuclides, which are still detectable in plants and sediments today. Bryophytes (mosses) are primitive land plants lacking roots and protective cuticles and therefore readily accumulate multiple contaminants, including metals and radionuclides. This study quantifies ¹³⁷Cs and ²⁴¹Am in moss samples from the cooling pond of the power plant, the surrounding woodland and the city of Prypiat. Activity concentrations of up to 297 Bq/g (¹³⁷Cs) and 0.43 Bq/g (²⁴¹Am) were found. ¹³⁷Cs contents were significantly higher at the cooling pond, where ²⁴¹Am was not detectable. Distance to the damaged reactor, amount of original fallout, presence of vascular tissue in the stem or

SUBMITTER: Schmidt B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10056093 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature