Oscillatory Cs-137 Distribution Pattern in Scotch Pine Bark.

The vertical distribution of the anthropogenic radionuclide Cs-137 in the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) bark was studied in two model trees in the radioactive contamination zone of the Bryansk region. Each tree was divided into 10-cm bars from the trunk base to a length of 17 m, and the bark with the bast was separated from each bar to obtain a separate sample. In addition to Cs-137, the natural radionuclide K-40 was measured in the bark of model tree 2 from the trunk base to a 6.5-m length. Specific activities of Cs-137 and K-40 were measured by γ-ray spectrometry. The vertical distribution of Cs-137 in the bark was for the first time observed to have a wave-like pattern with a period of approximately 1 m. The K-40 distribution showed a similar oscillatory pattern, consistent with a similar mechanism responsible for potassium and cesium behavior in woody plants. The correlation coefficient between specific activities of Cs-137 in model trees 1 and 2 was 0.80; the correlation coefficient between Cs-137 and K-40 activities in model tree 2 was 0.45. Cs-137 was assumed to provide a radiotracer to assess the intake and distribution of chemical elements in Scotch pine tissues. The oscillatory pattern observed for the vertical distributions of cesium and potassium in the pine bark has not been described in the available literature before.

[Accumulation of radionuclides in food chains of the Yenisei River after the nuclear power plant shutdown at the mining-and-chemical enterprise].

Accumulation of artificial and natural radionuclides in the chains of food webs leading to non-predatory and piscivorous fish of the Yenisei River was investigated during one year before and three years after the shutdown of a nuclear power plant at the Mining-and-Chemical Combine (2009-2012). The activity of artificial radionuclides in the samples of biota ofthe Yenisei River (aquatic moss, gammarids, dace, grayling, pike) was estimated. The concentration of radionuclides with induced activity (51Cr, 54Mn, 58Co, 60Co, 65Zn, 141, 144Ce, 152, 154Eu, 239Np) decreased in the biomass of biota after the shutdown of the nuclear power plant; the concentration of 137Cs did not. Analysis of the accumulation factors (C(F)) allows us to expect the effective accumulation of 137Cs in the terminal level of the food web of the Yenisei River--pike (C(F) = 2.0-9.4), i.e. biomagnifications of radiocesium. Accumulation of artificial, radionuclides in non-predatory fish from gammarids was not effective (C(F) < 1). An effective accumulation of 40K is possible in muscles of non-predatory and piscivorous fish species from food (C(F) = 2:6-3.1 and 1.3-1.4, respectively). C(Fs) of K and 40K were equal in all trophic pairs, but C(Fs) of 40K and 137Cs differed considerably.