Effect of tritium on the morpho-anatomical structure of the common reed (Phragmites australis)

Abstract

The article presents the results of research on the morpho-anatomical structure of the plants growing under chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. The research was conducted in the territory of the Semipalatinsk test site in the vicinity of the Shagan river. The radioecological situation in the study area is determined by the presence of the long-lived radionuclides 3H, 90Sr, 239+240Pu in components comprising the natural environment. The main contributor to the radioactive contam-ination of the nature components is 3H. The findings of the study show that when 3H specific activ-ity in the free water of the common reed grass increases to n103-n105 Bq/kg, some anatomical parameters of its cane and leaf are reduced. The study also shows that with the increase in triti-um specific activity from n102 to n105 Bq/kg the anatomical parameters of the cane (scleren-chyma, cane diameter) decrease. When the specific activity of tritium increases to n104 Bq/kg, the leaf anatomical parameters are reduced. When specific activity of 3H increases to n105 Bq/kg there is the general tendency to the insignificant increase in anatomical parameters.