THE ASSESSMENT OF RADIATION EXPOSURE OF TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS ON SOME SPECIES OF THE BIOTA OF POLESIE STATE RADIOECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Abstract

Objective : to assess the real radiation-absorbed dose of transuranium elements in underground and aboveground organs of herbaceous plants in the area of PSRER. Material and methods . The objects of the research were aboveground and underground organs of Iris pseudacorus L., Convallaria majalis L., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. The selection of the samples was carried out in Polesie State Radioecological Reserve. The specific activity of²³⁸Pu,²³⁹Pu,²⁴⁰Pu, and²⁴¹Am in the aboveground and underground organs was determined by the method of radiochemical analysis, on the basis of which the equivalent dose rate was calculated. Results . The equivalent dose rates of the isotopes of transuranium elements incorporated in the plant tissues are: 6.04×10^-1 micro Sv/day^-1 (aboveground) and 4.74 micro Sv/day^-1 (underground) in Iris pseudacorus , 6.86×10^-1 micro Sv/day^-1 (aboveground) and 9.01 micro Sv/day^-1(underground) in Convallaria majalis , 3,93×10^-1 micro Sv/day^-1 (aboveground) and 3.14 micro Sv/day^-1 (underground) in Phragmites australis . These rates are 4-33 times as little as the equivalent dose of¹³⁷Cs in the soil. Conclusion . The largest dose rate of transuranium elements is the share of the underground organs of the studied plants, besides²⁴¹Am makes the main contribution among transuranium elements.