137Cs accumulation by woody plants and edible mushrooms at the «Taiga» peaceful nuclear explosions site
https://doi.org/10.21514/1998-426X-2024-17-4-7-17
Abstract
In 1971 in the Perm region (the Russian Federation), three thermonuclear charges of the “Taiga” series were simultaneously detonated in order to test nuclear explosive technologies for creation of the Pechora-Kama canal. As a result of the underground explosions, long-lived technogenic radionuclides were released onto the surface of the earth along with soil and rock. Over time, a new forest ecosystem formed on the mound of the radioactively contaminated ground. The purpose of this study was to assess the 137Cs accumulation by woody plants and edible mushrooms at the “Taiga” underground nuclear explosions site at a remote stage (38 years) after radioactive contamination of the environment. Content of 137Cs was determined in organs of birch (Betula pubescens), spruce (Picea abies), aspen (Populus tremula), and pine (Pinus sylvestris), as well as in the fruiting bodies of mushrooms of the species Boletus edulis, Leccinum aurantiacum, Russula, and Suillus luteus. The activities of 137Cs in the samples were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry using a HPGe detector. The values of 137Cs activity concentration (on a dry weight basis) in the samples of wood, leaves/needles (1st year), and mushrooms were in the ranges of 0.5–6.8 Bq/kg, 54–112 Bq/kg, and 212-3260 Bq/kg, respectively. Aggregated transfer coefficients (kg/m2) for the radionuclide in the biota species were calculated using these results and previously reported data on the density of soil contamination by 137Cs at the “Taiga” site. It has been found that the transfer coefficients of 137Cs from soil to biota for all studied species at the “Taiga” site are abnormally low compared to those obtained by many authors for other places of radioactive contamination, in particular for the areas contaminated by 137Cs as a result of the Chernobyl accident. Possible reasons for the low accumulation of 137Cs in the biota at the “Taiga” site are discussed.
Keywords
woody plants,
edible mushrooms,
137Cs,
accumulation,
aggregated transfer coefficient,
soil-biota,
peaceful nuclear explosion,
“Taiga”
Supporting agencies: The authors express their gratitude to former employees of the Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev A. Medvedev, E. Khramtsov, and V. Yakovlev, as well as to employees of the Rospotrebnadzor branch in the Perm region M. Drachev and D. Muravyov for assistance in sampling at the “Taiga” site. The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments that improved the quality of the article. The article was written within the framework of the sectoral program of Rospotrebnadzor for 2021–2025: «Scientific substantiation of the national system for ensuring sanitary and epidemiological wellbeing, managing health risks and improving the quality of life of the population of Russia» on the topic: «Improving and developing methods for monitoring of environmental media in areas where peaceful nuclear explosions were performed. Radiation-hygienic characteristics of sources of drinking water supply».
About the Authors
V. P. Ramzaev
Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Valery P. Ramzaev – Candidate of Medical Sciences, Leading Researcher, External Exposure Laboratory, Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing.
Mira Str., 8, Saint Petersburg, 197101
V. S. Repin
Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Viktor S. Repin – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of Ecology Laboratory of Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing.
Saint Petersburg
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Review
For citations:
Ramzaev V.P., Repin V.S. 137Cs accumulation by woody plants and edible mushrooms at the «Taiga» peaceful nuclear explosions site. Radiatsionnaya Gygiena = Radiation Hygiene. 2024;17(4):7-17. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21514/1998-426X-2024-17-4-7-17
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