The structure of the dose rate from 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am for plants in the Polesye state radiation-ecological reserve

  • Ruslan K. Spirau Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
  • Natallia I. Tsimokhina Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
  • Igor A. Cheshik Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
  • Aleksander N. Nikitin Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

Abstract

The values of the RBE-weighted absorbed dose from 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am for the dominant plants in four phytocenoses types situated in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. The assessment of the RBE-weighted absorbed dose rates was carried out by the method of dose coefficients proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and based on the activity of radionuclides in the aboveground and underground phytomass of plants.  The highest value of RBE-weighted absorbed dose rate in a meadow ecosystem has Poa pratensis (33.11 μGy×h-1), in a mixed birch forest – Festuca ovina (25.19 μGy×h-1), in a pine forest – Betula pendula (36.78 μGy×h-1), in a black alder forest – Corylus avellana (5.39 μGy×h-1). The obtained values of dose rate do not exceed the derived consideration reference levels for non-human biota proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The main share in the structure of the RBE-weighted absorbed dose rate for plants belongs to the 137Cs – from 64.0% to 99.9%. The main share in the structure of the internal dose rate from transuranic elements belongs to 241Am – from 52.0% to 91.3%. Since the half-lives of the isotopes of transuranic elements exceed the half-life of 137Cs, it is expected that the share of the RBE-weighted absorbed dose rate from the long-lived isotopes of americium and plutonium for the plants in the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve will increase over years. The results are important for the assessing and forecasting ecology consequences of the chronic exposure the main types of ecosystems to ionizing radiation on the territories contaminated with artificial radioisotopes originated from the Chernobyl accident.

Author Biographies

Ruslan K. Spirau, Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

researcher at the department of environmental and food quality.

Natallia I. Tsimokhina, Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

PhD (biology); head of the department of environmental and food quality.

Igor A. Cheshik, Institute of Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

PhD (medicine); director of the Institute of Radiobiology.

Aleksander N. Nikitin, Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

PhD (agriculture); deputy director for Science of the Institute of Microbiology.

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Published
2024-01-05
Keywords: dose rate, transuranium elements, non-human biota, caesium, plutonium, americium, radioisotopes
Supporting Agencies This work was supported by grants to perform research work doctoral students, graduate students and applicants of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus no. 2016-29-140 for 2016 and no. 2017-29-043 for 2017.
How to Cite
Spirau, R., Tsimokhina, N., Cheshik, I., & Nikitin, A. (2024). The structure of the dose rate from 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am for plants in the Polesye state radiation-ecological reserve. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Ecology, 4, 29-40. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/ecology/article/view/5951
Issue
No 4 (2023): Journal of the Belarusian state university. Ecology
Section
Radioecology and Radiobiology, Radiation Safety