Radiostrontium uptake by plants from different soil types in Kazakhstan

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Radiochemistry
• Plant Ecology

Background:

• Radioactive contamination from the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) poses environmental risks.
• Understanding radionuclide transfer to plants is crucial for ecological risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the transfer of Strontium-90 (90Sr) from diverse Kazakh soils to various plant species.
• To identify plant species and soil properties influencing 90Sr uptake.

Main Methods:

• Lysimeter experiments were conducted with multiple plant species and soil types from Kazakhstan, including areas near the STS.
• Aggregated transfer coefficients (Tag values) were calculated to quantify 90Sr transfer to vegetation.

Main Results:

• Stipa spp. exhibited significantly higher 90Sr uptake compared to other species.
• Chernozem soils showed significantly lower 90Sr uptake than other soil types.
• Negative correlations between 90Sr uptake and soil calcium, humus, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were observed for Agropyrum spp. and Artemisia spp.

Conclusions:

• Plant species and soil characteristics significantly influence 90Sr bioavailability and uptake.
• Overall 90Sr transfer to vegetation from these Kazakh soils was found to be low.
• Findings contribute to understanding radionuclide dynamics in post-test site environments.