Accumulation Radiocesium (137Cs) By Plants of the Dnipro River’s Floodplain Ecosystems after Chernobyl Contamination

Abstract

The analysis of radiocesium (137Cs) accumulation by plants of forest, marsh, meadow, psamophytic, and ruderal communities in the Dnipro River floodplain (Ukraine) was carried out. The species specificity of radiocesium accumulation by plants of specific biotopes and the direct dependence of the plant accumulation coefficient on the density of biotope contamination with radionuclides were confirmed. Differences in different radiocesium accumulation by plants of different ecosystems are probably related to the fact that the bioavailability of radiocesium strongly depends on soil properties. In the analyzed statistical model, the processes of accumulation and dissipation of 137Cs are significant.