Evaluation of bioavailable 137Cs transfer from forest litter to Scarabaeidae beetle (Protaetia orientalis) through a breeding experiment in Fukuhshima.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, most of the released 137Cs remained in the litter and surface soil of the adjacent forest floor. However, 137Cs absorption by large soil invertebrates near this site has not been estimated. The aim of this study was to understand the role of soil macroinvertebrates in 137Cs uptake from forest litter into forest ecosystems. Breeding experiments were conducted using scarab beetle larvae (Protaetia orientalis). Dissection experiments revealed that 85% of the total 137Cs was concentrated in the digestive tract of larvae, while a low proportion was absorbed into the skin and muscle tissues. The 137Cs absorption rate, indicating the transfer of 137Cs from consumed litter to larval tissue, was low (0.39%). 137Cs concentrations decreased to one-fourth from larva to imago, possibly due to excretion from the digestive tract and during eclosion. In the elimination experiment, biological half-lives were 0.26-0.64 and 0.11-0.47 days and 3.35-48.30 and 4.01-17.70 days for the digestive tract and muscle/skin tissues in the fast and slow components, respectively, corresponding to 137Cs discharge from the gastrointestinal tract and physiological clearance. In the sequential extraction experiment, litter digestion by flower chafer larvae significantly reduced the bioavailable fraction of 137Cs including water-soluble, exchangeable, oxidized, and organic forms, from 23.2% in litter to 17.7% in feces. Residual 137Cs was not reduced by digestion, probably because it was fixed in soil clay. Our study on breeding experiments of the Scarabaeidae beetle confirmed the low bioavailability of 137Cs in the litter in Fukushima. However, litter feeders may play an important role in transferring 137Cs to higher trophic levels in the forest ecosystem by extracting the bioavailable fraction of the vast stock of 137Cs on the forest floor.

Effects of Detoxifying Substances on Uranium Removal by Bacteria Isolated from Mine Soils: Performance, Mechanisms, and Bacterial Communities.

In this study, we investigated the effect of detoxifying substances on U(VI) removal by bacteria isolated from mine soil. The results demonstrated that the highest U(VI) removal efficiency (85.6%) was achieved at pH 6.0 and a temperature of 35 °C, with an initial U(VI) concentration of 10 mg/L. For detoxifying substances, signaling molecules acyl homoserine lactone (AHLs, 0.1 µmol/L), anthraquinone-2, 6-disulfonic acid (AQDS, 1 mmol/L), reduced glutathione (GSH, 0.1 mmol/L), selenium (Se, 1 mg/L), montmorillonite (MT, 1 g/L), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA, 0.1 mmol/L) substantially enhanced the bacterial U(VI) removal by 34.9%, 37.4%, 54.5%, 35.1%, 32.8%, and 47.8% after 12 h, respectively. This was due to the alleviation of U(VI) toxicity in bacteria through detoxifying substances, as evidenced by lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities for bacteria exposed to U(VI) and detoxifying substances, compared to those exposed to U(VI) alone. FTIR results showed that hydroxyl, carboxyl, phosphorus, and amide groups participated in the U(VI) removal. After exposure to U(VI), the relative abundances of Chryseobacterium and Stenotrophomonas increased by 48.5% and 12.5%, respectively, suggesting their tolerance ability to U(VI). Gene function prediction further demonstrated that the detoxifying substances AHLs alleviate U(VI) toxicity by influencing bacterial metabolism. This study suggests the potential application of detoxifying substances in the U(VI)-containing wastewater treatment through bioremediation.

Bioremediation of uranium enriched coal fly ash based on microbially induced calcite precipitation.

Coal fly ash (CFA) is an essential raw material in brickmaking industry worldwide. There are some coal mines with a relatively high content of uranium (U) in the Xinjiang region of China that are yet understudied. The CFA from these coal mines poses substantial environmental risks due to the concentrated uranium amount after coal burning. In this paper, we demonstrated a calcifying ureolytic bacterium Halomonas sp. SBC20 for its biocementation of U in CFA based on microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Rectangle-shaped CFA bricks were made from CFA using bacterial cells, and an electric testing machine tested their compressive strength. U distribution pattern and immobility against rainfall runoff were carefully examined by a five-stage U sequential extraction method and a leaching column test. The microstructural changes in CFA bricks were characterized by FTIR and SEM-EDS methods. The results showed that the compressive strength of CFA bricks after being cultivated by bacterial cells increased considerably compared to control specimens. U mobility was significantly decreased in the exchangeable fraction, while the U content was markedly increased in the carbonate-bound fraction after biocementation. Much less U was released in the leaching column test after the treatment with bacterial cells. The FTIR and SEM-EDX methods confirmed the formation of carbonate precipitates and the incorporation of U into the calcite surfaces, obstructing the release of U into the surrounding environments. The technology provides an effective and economical treatment of U-contaminated CFA, which comes from coal mines with high uranium content in the Xinjiang region, even globally.

Biological assessment and radiological impact in Keana, North Central Nigeria: environmental implication and metabolites production.

The objective of the research was to examine microbial characteristics, metabolites produced, and the potential radiological risks present in mining soils located in Keana, North Central Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from various locations within Keana, Nasarawa State. Bacterial isolation was carried out, and molecular techniques were employed to characterize the bacteria found in the collected soil samples. Additionally, the susceptibility of these isolates to antibiotics was determined, and the bacteria screened for their ability to produce metabolites. The isolated bacteria were classified into three groups: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. The analysis of the spectra revealed that 1595 compounds were produced, including carboxylic acids, nitro compounds, aldehydes, anhydrides, esters, ketones, amides, phenols, alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and arenes. Some of the metabolites produced were oleic acid, 1,3-dioxolane, linoelaidic acid and oleic acid, 1-nonadecene, butylated hydroxytoluene, diisooctyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate among others, and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (85.32%) as the most produced metabolite. Among the antibiotics tested, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin exhibited the strongest antibacterial properties against the isolates. Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry analysis identified elevated levels of potassium, thorium, and uranium in the soils, indicating potential environmental hazards. However, no significant correlation was found between the presence of bacteria and radioactive elements. These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive environmental monitoring in Keana to address potential health risks associated with microbial contamination and radioactive materials. Additionally, the study highlighted the role of microbial diversity in Keana soils in promoting the production of secondary metabolites with potential applications in pharmaceutical and industrial sectors..

Impacts of soil type and drought stress on growth and cesium accumulation in Napier grass.

In our previous study, the decontamination efficiency of cesium-137 (137Cs) by Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) in the field was shown to be variable and often influenced by natural environmental factors. To elucidate the factors influencing this variable 137Cs-decontamination efficiency, we investigated the influences of soil type and drought stress on Cs accumulation using cesium-133 (133Cs) in Napier grass grown in plastic containers. The experiment was performed using two soil types (Soil A and B) and three different soil moisture conditions: well-watered control (CL), slight drought stress (SD), and moderate drought stress (MD). Overall, our results indicate that soil type and drought have a significant impact on plant growth and 133Cs accumulation in Napier grass. Plant height (PH), tiller number (TN), leaf width (Wleaf), and dry matter weight of aboveground parts (DWabove) and root parts (DWroot) in Soil B were greater than those in Soil A. Drought stress negatively affected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (maximal quantum efficiency of photosystem (PS) II photochemistry and potential activity of PS II), PH, TN, Wleaf, DWabove, DWroot, and total 133Cs content (TCs), but it had a positive effect on 133Cs concentration. The 133Cs concentration in the aboveground parts (Csabove) was increased by MD approximately 1.62-fold in Soil A and 1.11-fold in Soil B compared to each CL counterpart. The TCs in the aboveground parts (TCsabove) decreased due to drought by approximately 19.9%-39.0% in Soil A and 49.9%-62.7% in Soil B; however, there was no significant effect on TCsabove due to soil type. The results of this study indicate that soil moisture is a key factor in maintaining Napier grass 137Cs-decontamination efficiency.

Organophosphorus mineralizing-Streptomyces species underpins uranate immobilization and phosphorus availability in uranium tailings.

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are important but often overlooked regulators of uranium (U) cycling in soil. However, the impact of PSB on uranate fixation coupled with the decomposition of recalcitrant phosphorus (P) in mining land remains poorly understood. Here, we combined gene amplicon sequencing, metagenome and metatranscriptome sequencing analysis and strain isolation to explore the effects of PSB on the stabilization of uranate and P availability in U mining areas. We found that the content of available phosphorus (AP), carbonate-U and Fe-Mn-U oxides in tailings was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than their adjacent soils. Also, organic phosphate mineralizing (PhoD) bacteria (e.g., Streptomyces) and inorganic phosphate solubilizing (gcd) bacteria (e.g., Rhodococcus) were enriched in tailings and soils, but only organic phosphate mineralizing-bacteria substantially contributed to the AP. Notably, most genes involved in organophosphorus mineralization and uranate resistance were widely present in tailings rather than soil. Comparative genomics analyses supported that organophosphorus mineralizing-Streptomyces species could increase soil AP content and immobilize U(VI) through organophosphorus mineralization (e.g., PhoD, ugpBAEC) and U resistance related genes (e.g., petA). We further demonstrated that the isolated Streptomyces sp. PSBY1 could enhance the U(VI) immobilization mediated by the NADH-dependent ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase (petA) through decomposing organophosphorous compounds. This study advances our understanding of the roles of PSB in regulating the fixation of uranate and P availability in U tailings.

Field-based soil-plant uptake measurements of natural radionuclides for key vegetables and ghaf leaves in Abu Dhabi.

With the thriving fossil fuel and nuclear based industries in the nation, radioecology has become necessary for the radiation safety and emergency-preparedness for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Environmental radiation transport modelling in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula are severely limited, as we discuss in this paper, due to lack of experiments specific to arid desert climates. To fill the missing gaps in the baseline arid region radioecological database, especially for the soil-plant uptake studies, rigorous field works have been conducted for the first time on the soil and plant in the farms and open fields of the UAE. We present Abu Dhabi based measurements of activity concentrations of radionuclides of natural origins, in soils, key vegetables (cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper), and leaves of ghaf - a prominent native tree. The empirical data are utilized to get the first published estimates of UAE-specific plant-soil concentration ratios (CR), measuring root uptake of radionuclides in nonleafy vegetables and native trees. Such systematic studies are very rare for arid sandy soils. For the 27 samples analyzed, the activity concentrations' (unit Bq kg-1) ranges are: 169-1746 for 40K, 12-19.5 for 226Ra, and 2.7-23.1 for 228Ra. Likewise, wide variability is seen in the averages of concentration ratios also, ranging in 1.05-4.94 for 40K, 0.14-1.82 for 226Ra, and 0.53-2.78 for 228Ra. A net bioaccumulation (concentration ratio >1) of some of these natural radionuclides is found in many samples, but no significant doses or hazard indices are found due to these three radionuclides in the UAE's soils and vegetations. The paper discusses the careful work through tens of field sampling exercises, well controlled sample processing, high resolution gamma spectrometry, and treatment of data from gamma counting rates to accumulated dose rate estimations.

Uptake of technetium-99 by food crops under field conditions.

Long-term field experiments have been carried out in the Chornobyl Exclusion zone to determine parameters describing technetium (99Tc) transfer into five food plants (Lettuce, Radish, Wheat, Bean, and Potato) from four types of soil, namely Podzoluvisol, Greyzem, Phaeozem, and Chernozem. Technetium was added to the soils under field conditions in a pertechnetate form. In the first two years, soil type had little effect on Tc uptake by plants. In the first and second years after contamination, the concentration ratios (CR), defined as 99Tc activity concentration in the crop (dry weight) divided by that in the soil (dry weight), for radish roots and lettuce leaves ranged from 60 to 210. For potato tubers, the CR was d 0.4-2.3, i.e., two orders of magnitude lower than for radish and lettuce, and for summer wheat grain it was lower at 0.6 ± 0.1. After 8-9 years, root uptake of 99Tc by wheat decreased by 3-7 fold (CR from 0.016 ± 0.005 to 0.12 ± 0.034) and only 13-22 % of the total 99Tc added remained in the upper 20 cm soil layers. The time taken for half of the added 99Tc to be removed from the 20-cm arable soil layer due to vertical migration and transfer to plants was short at c. 2-3 years.

Enhanced microbial remediation of uranium tailings through red soil utilization.

Seepage of uranium tailings has become a focus of attention in the uranium mining and metallurgy industry, and in-situ microbial remediation is considered an effective way to treat uranium pollution. However, this method has the drawbacks of easy biomass loss and unstable remediation effect. To overcome these issues, spare red soil around the uranium mine was used to enhance the efficiency and stability of bioremediation. Furthermore, the bioremediation mechanism was revealed by employing XRD, FTIR, XPS, and 16S rRNA. The results showed that red soil, as a barrier material, had the adsorption potential of 8.21-148.00 mg U/kg soil, but the adsorption is accompanied by the release of certain acidic and oxidative substances. During the dynamic microbial remediation, red soil was used as a cover material to neutralize acidity, provide a higher reduction potential (<-200 mV), and increase the retention rate of microbial agent (19.06 mL/d) compared to the remediation group without red soil. In the presence of red soil, the anaerobic system could maintain the uranium concentration in the solution below 0.3 mg/L for more than 70 days. Moreover, the generation of new clay minerals driven by microorganisms was more conducive to the stability of uranium tailings. Through alcohol and amino acid metabolism of microorganisms, a reducing environment with reduced valence states of multiple elements (such as S2-, Fe2+, and U4+) was formed. At the same time, the relative abundance of functional microbial communities in uranium tailings improved in presence of red soil and Desulfovirobo, Desulfocapsa, Desulfosporosinus, and other active microbial communities reconstructed the anaerobic environment. The study provides a new two-in-one solution for treatment of uranium tailings and resource utilization of red soil through in-situ microbial remediation.

Long-term behaviour of Cs-137, Cs-133 and K in beech trees of French forests.

In the long-term after atmospheric deposit onto a forest ecosystem, Cs-137 becomes incorporated into the biogeochemical cycle of stable elements and progressively reaches a quasi-equilibrium state. This study aimed at determining to what extent Cs-137 activity distribution in tree vegetation could be predicted from that of stable caesium (Cs-133) and potassium (K), which are known to be stable chemical analogues and competitors for Cs-137 intake in tree organs. Field campaigns that focused on beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) were conducted in 2021 in three French forest stands with contrasted characteristics regarding either the contribution of global vs. Chornobyl fallouts, soil or climatic conditions. Decades after Cs-137 fallouts, it was found that more than 80% of the total radioactive inventory in the system remained confined in the top 20 cm mineral layers, while organic layers and beech vegetation (including roots) contributed each to less than 1.5%. The enhanced downward migration of Cs-137 in cambisol than podzol forest sites was presumably due to migration of clay particles and bioturbation. The distribution of Cs-137 and Cs-133 inventories in beech trees was very similar among sites but differed from that of K due a higher accumulation of Cs isotopes in roots (40-50% vs. < 25% for K). The aggregated transfer factor (Tag) of Cs-137 calculated for aerial beech organs were all lower than those reported in literature more than 20 years ago, this suggesting a decrease of bioavailability in soil due to ageing processes. Regarding their variability, Tags were generally lower by a factor 5 at the cambisol site, which was fairly well explained by a much higher value of RIP (radiocesium immobilisation potential). Cs-137 concentrations in trees organs normalized by the soil exchangeable fractions were linearly correlated to those of Cs-133 and the best fit was found for the linear regression model without intercept indicating that no more contribution of the foliar uptake could be observed on long term. Provided that the vertical distribution of caesium concentrations and fine root density are properly measured or estimated, Cs-133 was shown to be a much better proxy than K to estimate the root transfer of Cs-137.

Recent trends in the phytoremediation of radionuclide contamination of soil by cesium and strontium: Sources, mechanisms and methods: A comprehensive review.

This comprehensive review examines recent trends in phytoremediation strategies to address soil radionuclide contamination by cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr). Radionuclide contamination, resulting from natural processes and nuclear-related activities such as accidents and the operation of nuclear facilities, poses significant risks to the environment and human health. Cs and Sr, prominent radionuclides involved in nuclear accidents, exhibit chemical properties that contribute to their toxicity, including easy uptake, high solubility, and long half-lives. Phytoremediation is emerging as a promising and environmentally friendly approach to mitigate radionuclide contamination by exploiting the ability of plants to extract toxic elements from soil and water. This review focuses specifically on the removal of 90Sr and 137Cs, addressing their health risks and environmental implications. Understanding the mechanisms governing plant uptake of radionuclides is critical and is influenced by factors such as plant species, soil texture, and physicochemical properties. Phytoremediation not only addresses immediate contamination challenges but also provides long-term benefits for ecosystem restoration and sustainable development. By improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience, phytoremediation is in line with global sustainability goals and environmental protection initiatives. This review aims to provide insights into effective strategies for mitigating environmental hazards associated with radionuclide contamination and to highlight the importance of phytoremediation in environmental remediation efforts.

Monitoring of radioactive cesium in wild boars captured inside the difficult-to-return zone in Fukushima Prefecture over a 5-year period.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, tissue samples from wild boar (Sus scrofa) outside the evacuation zone (difficult-to-return zone, DRZ) tended to show high activity concentrations of cesium-137 (137Cs). Understanding the 137Cs dynamics of wild boar populations inside the DRZ is necessary because they affect 137Cs dynamics and wild boar management in areas outside the DRZ. Since few detailed, long-term studies have been conducted inside the DRZ, we measured 137Cs activity concentrations in 221 wild boar muscle samples obtained from wild boar caught inside the DRZ and surrounding areas over a 5-year period. Our results showed that the 137Cs activity concentration in wild boar from inside the DRZ were higher than those in wild boar outside this zone. No significant difference was observed between muscle and soil 137Cs levels, but significant correlations were observed between muscle 137Cs activity concentrations and body length and body weight in the low-activity-concentration season, but not between all seasons and the high-activity-concentration seasons. It is considered that the size effects observed during the low-activity-concentration season may be due to factors related to metabolism and changes in food habit. This is the first long-term survey of 137Cs in wild boar inside the DRZ.

Bomb 137Cs in modern honey reveals a regional soil control on pollutant cycling by plants.

137Cs is a long-lived (30-year radioactive half-life) fission product dispersed globally by mid-20th century atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. Here we show that vegetation thousands of kilometers from testing sites continues to cycle 137Cs because it mimics potassium, and consequently, bees magnify this radionuclide in honey. There were no atmospheric weapons tests in the eastern United States, but most honey here has detectable 137Cs at >0.03 Bq kg-1, and in the southeastern U.S., activities can be >500 times higher. By measuring honey, we show regional patterns in the biogeochemical cycling of 137Cs and conclude that plants and animals receive disproportionally high exposure to ionizing radiation from 137Cs in low potassium soils. In several cases, the presence of 137Cs more than doubled the ionizing radiation from gamma and x-rays in the honey, indicating that despite its radioactive half-life, the environmental legacy of regional 137Cs pollution can persist for more than six decades.

Experimental investigation of D2 conversion to DHO in soil near the Cernavoda nuclear power plant site in Romania.

The current Canadian and Romanian model predictions for tritium dose following an atmospheric tritiated hydrogen gas (HT) release is based on a default Canadian Standards Association (CSA) conversion factor of HT to tritiated water (HTO) of 4.3%. The determination of an empirical site specific value for the conversion factor was essential for the CANDU Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Romania to verify if the CSA value is appropriate for use at this site. Given the role of soil characteristics on the conversion of HT to HTO, on-site experiments would provide the best evaluation of the conversion factor. The objective of the study was to define the soil HT to HTO conversion parameters specific to the Cernavoda NPP site. In June 2016, a series of experiments were conducted to meet this objective. First, the in situ deposition velocity of D2 gas, as a surrogate for HT gas, was obtained using an exposure chamber. Diffusion of D2 into the soil was then evaluated based on the measurements of DHO concentrations in the exposed soil. As soil microbes play a role in the conversion of HT to HTO, this work included a microbiological characterization of the soil, which targeted total soil bacteria (cultivable and gene-based) and hydrogen oxidizing bacteria (cultivable and gene-based). The fraction of hydrogen oxidizing cultivable soil bacteria represented 14-20% of the total cultivable bacteria population estimated as 2.8-29.2 × 105 cfu/g of soil. The empirically derived HT to HTO conversion factor was lower than the default value (4.3%). It fell between 0.9% and 2.0%. The default value is therefore more conservative than the Cernavoda site-specific derived value obtained from the study.

Modification of natural radionuclide uptake by wheat using a NORM by-product as soil amendment.

Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTPs) can be optimised for removal of natural radionuclides, thus meeting EU legislation. Removed radionuclides (234,238U, 226Ra and 210Po) go into sludges. What would happen if these sludges were used in agriculture? Wheat plantlets were cultivated in original and sludge-amended soils under laboratory controlled conditions. Soil-to plant transfer was significantly increased in factors ranging 1.2-3.7, 2.0-5.6, and 1.6-2.4 for 234,238U, 226Ra and 210Po, respectively. The additional input was preferentially accumulated in roots.

A novel method for determining the adequate dose of a chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionulides contaminated soils by M. cordata.

A chelating agent in an adequate dose used to enhance phytoremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil should not inhibit the growth of the plant. If this constraint condition is satisfied, the total bioaccumulation amount (TBA) of radionuclide by the plant can be maximized. This is a constrained optimization problem to determine the adequate dose of the chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil. In this research, an adequate dose of a chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soil was determined by a novel approach using pot experiments. The proposed approach was applied to specify the adequate doses of citric acid (CA) and S,S-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) for phytoremediation of uranium contaminated soil by M. Cordata. By using this method, the adequate doses of CA and EDDS for phytoremediation of 238U, 232Th and 226Ra contaminated soils by M. cordata were measures as 10.0 and 5.0 mmol kg-1, respectively. The results showed that the approach could be used to establish the adequate dose of a chelating agent for phytoremediation of radionuclide or other toxic heavy metal contaminated soil by a plant.

The transfer of 241Am and 137Cs to the tissues of broilers' organs.

Data on the transfer of artificial radionuclides from the environment to the food supply is necessary for internal dose assessment. There is a necessity for expanding and improving the available information on these factors in order to make better dose models for specific scenarios. This paper describes the results of a field experiment with broiler chickens on the transfer factor (Ff) and concentration ratio (CR) for the long-term intake of 241Am and 137Cs with grass meal and soil. The broilers were divided into two groups, each group had nine subgroups and each subgroup had three broilers. The radionuclide concentrations in the feed and the thigh muscle, thigh bone, and liver of 54 broilers divided between the grass meal and soil groups were evaluated by gamma spectrometry for 241Am and 137Cs. The duration of feeding with "contaminated" sources ranged between 1-70 days. The equilibrium stage of 241Am in muscle and bone occurs on the 1st and 40th day, respectively; for 137Cs in muscle- 30th days of intake and for liver and bone- 7th days. For 241Am, the liver did not reach equilibrium stage during the 70 days of intake. Ff of 137Cs in the "forage-muscle" and "soil-muscle" systems were determined as 1.9±0.3 and 0.18±0.05; Ff of 241Am in the "soil-muscle" system was-7.5×10-5.

Bolete mushroom Boletus bainiugan from Yunnan as a reflection of the geographical distribution of 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides, their intake rates and effective exposure doses.

This pioneering study aimed to determine the activity concentrations of 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides in fruit bodies of wild bolete Boletus bainiugan Dentinger and to estimate its edible safety, which may give scientific evidence for the consumption of this species. The analyses were performed using alpha spectrometer after digestion, exchange resins separation and deposition. Measurement data were analysed and interpolation maps reflecting 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) geographical distribution in Yunnan province (China) were presented. In addition, from the perspective of food safety, the possible related effective radiation dose to mushrooms consumers were estimated. The results indicated that 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides contents in B. bainiugan were significantly different with respect to geographical distribution, and their possible intake in a part of the region was considerably higher. A very interesting observation was done according to the values of 235U/238U activity ratio indicating the occurrence of uranium faction from the global fallout of nuclear weapon tests.

Variations in radioactive cesium accumulation in wheat germplasm from fields affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.

Decreasing the transfer of radioactive cesium (RCs) from soil to crops has been important since the deposition of RCs in agricultural soil owing to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of 2011. We investigated the genotypic variation in RCs accumulation in 234 and 198 hexaploid wheat (Triticum spp.) varieties in an affected field in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The effects of soil exchangeable potassium (ExK) content to RCs accumulation in wheat varieties were also evaluated. A test field showed fourfold differences in soil ExK contents based on location, and the wheat varieties grown in areas with lower soil ExK contents tended to have higher grain RCs concentrations. RCs concentrations of shoots, when corrected by the soil ExK content, were positively significantly correlated between years, and RCs concentrations of shoots were significantly correlated with the grain RCs concentration corrected by the soil ExK content. These results indicated that there were genotypic variations in RCs accumulation. The grain to shoot ratio of RCs also showed significant genotypic variation. Wheat varieties with low RCs accumulations were identified. They could contribute to the research and breeding of low RCs accumulating wheat and to agricultural production in the area affected by RCs deposition.

Uranium accumulation and its phytotoxicity symptoms in Pisum sativum L.

Environmental contamination by uranium (U) and other radionuclides is a serious problem worldwide, especially due to, e.g. mining activities. Ultimate accumulation of released U in aquatic systems and soils represent an escalating problem for all living organisms. In order to investigate U uptake and its toxic effects on Pisum sativum L., pea plantlets were hydroponically grown and treated with different concentrations of U. Five days after exposure to 25 and 50 µM U, P. sativum roots accumulated 2327.5 and 5559.16 mg kg-1 of U, respectively, while in shoots concentrations were 11.16 and 12.16 mg kg-1, respectively. Plants exposed to both U concentrations showed reduced biomass of shoots and reduced content of photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophyll and carotenoids) relative to control. As a biomarker of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were determined, while antioxidative response was determined by catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities as well as cysteine (Cys) and non-protein thiol (NP-SH) concentrations, both in roots and shoots. Both U treatments significantly increased LPO levels in roots and shoots, with the highest level recorded at 50 µM U, 50.38% in shoots and 59.9% in roots relative to control. U treatment reduced GR activity in shoots, while CAT activity was increased only in roots upon treatment with 25 µM U. In pea roots, cysteine content was significantly increased upon treatment with both U concentrations, for 19.8 and 25.5%, respectively, compared to control plants, while NP-SH content was not affected by the applied U. This study showed significant impact of U on biomass production and biochemical markers of phytotoxicity in P. sativum, indicating presence of oxidative stress and cellular redox imbalance in roots and shoots. Obtained tissue-specific response to U treatment showed higher sensitivity of shoots compared to roots. Much higher accumulation of U in pea roots compared to shoots implies potential role of this species in phytoremediation process.