Skip to main content

Contributions to the State of the Art in Radionuclides–Plants Interaction Field

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Radionuclide Contamination and Remediation Through Plants
  • 908 Accesses

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an option considered in the radioactive pollution of soils and waters as an easy, environmental-friendly, and energetically inexpensive method in order to clean radioactive-contaminated fields or surface waters. A short review of radionuclides uptake at laboratory scale, greenhouse, and in-field is presented, and our results are highlighted. In a model study, wheat germination is presented here as a cleaning method at laboratory scale and a number of toxicological and biochemical aspects are further discussed. The effect of several natural and synthetic radioprotective agents is also presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aarkrog A (1969) On the direct contamination of rye, barley, wheat and oats with 85Sr, 134Cs, 54Mn and 141Ce. Radiat Bot 9:357–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alexakhin RM (1993) Countermeasures in agricultural production as an effective means of mitigating the radiological consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Sci Total Environ 137:9–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson SB, Eriksson J, Gärdenäs AI, Rosén K (2012) Influence of development stage of spring oilseed rape and spring wheat on interception of wet-deposited radiocaesium and radiostrontium. Atmos Environ 60:227–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson SB, Eriksson J, Gärdenäs AI, Vinichuk M, Rosén K (2013) Accumulation of wet-deposited radiocaesium and radiostrontium by spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Environ Pollut 182:335–342

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buesseler K, Aoyama M, Fukasawa M (2011) Impacts of the Fukushima nuclear power plants on marine radioactivity. Environ Sci Technol 45:9931–9935

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavallini A, Natali L, Durante M, Maserti B (1999) Mercury uptake, distribution and DNA affinity in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) plants. Sci Total Environ 243–244:119–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Rudic V, Palamaru I, Humelnicu D, Goanţă M, Şalaru VV (1997) Recuperation of uranyl ions from effluents by means of microbiological collectors. Waste Manag 17:97–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Palamaru I, Popa K, Cărăuş I, Rudic V, Gulea A (1999) Accumulation of 60Co2+ and UO2 2+ ions on hydrophilic plants. Isot Environ Health Stud 35:213–219

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Popa K (2001) 204Tl+ ions adsorption from the low radioactive solutions on Lemna minor. Rev Chim (Bucharest) 52:382–385

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Palamaru I, Popa K, Rudic V, Gulea A (2001) Spectrophotometric studies on the metallic ions bioaccumulation on algae. Rev Chim (Bucharest) 52:495–499

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Popa K, Potoroacă V, Melniciuc-Puică N (2002a) Decontamination of radioactive liquid wastes by hydrophilic vegetal organisms. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 251:257–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Popa K, Craus ML, Paţachia S, Moraru RT (2002b) On the bioleaching of UO2 2+ ions from a Romanian poor uranium ore. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 254:81–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Popa K, Cărăuş I, Potoroacă V (2002c) Bioaccumulation of 65Zn2+ ions on some hydrophilic plants. Isot Environ Health Stud 38:33–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Popa K, Cărăuş I, Crăciun II (2002d) Uranium and thorium uptake on the hydrophilic plants. In: Merkel JB, Planer-Friederich B, Wolkersdorfer C (eds) Uranium in the aquatic environment III. Springer, Freiberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Humelnicu D, Rudic V, Cepoi L, Gânju D, Cojocari A (2012a) Uptake of uranyl ions from uranium ores and sludge’s by means of Spirulina platensis, Porphyridium cruentum and Nostok linckia alga. Bioresour Technol 118:19–23

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cecal A, Humelnicu D, Rudic V, Cepoi L, Cojocari A (2012b) Removal of uranyl ions from UO2(NO3)2 solution by means of Chlorella vulgaris and Dunaliella salina algae. Cent Eur J Chem 10:1669–1675

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cho DY, Lee S, Park S, Chung A (1994) Studies on the biosorption of heavy metals onto Chlorella vulgaris. J Environ Sci Health A 29:389–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Costin DT, Nica CC, Cozma DG, Cecal A, Popa K (2010) Monitoring of several radioisotopes in soils and plants in uranium mining areas. Environ Eng Manag J 9:275–279

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Philippis R, Colica G, Micheletti E (2011) Exopolysaccharide-producing cyanobacteria in heavy metal removal from water: Molecular basis and practical applicability of the biosorption process. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 92:697–708

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ding DX, Liu XT, Hu N, Li GY, Wang YD (2012) Removal and recovery of uranium from aqueous solution by tea waste. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 293:735–741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Djingova R, Kovacheva P, Todorov B, Zlateva B, Kuleff I (2005) On the influence of soil properties on the transfer of 137Cs from two soils (Chromic Luvisoil and Eutric Fluvisol) to wheat and cabbage. J Environ Radioact 82:63–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drochioiu G (2006) Eugen Macovschi’s concept of biostructure and its current development. In: Savva S (ed) Life and mind: in search of the physical basis. Trafford Publication, Canada, USA, Ireland and UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Dushenkov S, Vasudev D, Kapulnik Y, Gleba D, Fleisher D, Ting KC, Ensley B (1997) Removal of uranium from water using terrestrial plants. Environ Sci Technol 31:3468–3474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenbud M (1973) Environmental radiation, 2nd edn. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Geras’kin S, Evseeva TI, Belykh ES, Majstrenko TA, Michalik B, Taskaev AI (2007) Effects on non-human species inhabiting areas with enhanced level of natural radioactivity in the north of Russia: a review. J Environ Radioact 94:151–182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geras’kin S, Evseeva T, Oudalova A (2013) Effect of long-term chronic exposure to radionuclides in plant populations. J Environ Radioact 121:22–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gok C, Turzoku DA, Ayas S (2011) Removal of Th(IV) ions from aqueous solution using bi-functionalized algae-yeast biosorbent. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 287:533–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gouthu S, Arie T, Ambe S, Yamaguchi I (1997) Screening of plant species for comparative uptake abilities of radioactive Co, Rb, Sr and Cs from soil. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 222:247–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harada N, Nonaka M (2012) Soil radiocaesium distribution in rice fields disturbed by farming process after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. Sci Total Environ 438:242–247

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hattink J, Harms AV, de Goeij JJM (2003) Uptake, biotransformation, and elimination of 99Tc in duckweed. Sci Total Environ 312:59–65

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hirose K (2012) 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident: summary of regional radioactive deposition monitoring results. J Environ Radioact 111:13–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hosseinimehr SJ (2007) Trends in the development of radioprotective agents. Drug Discovery Today 12:794–805

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humelnicu D, Drochioiu G, Popa K (2004) The bioaccumulation of thorium and uranyl ions on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 260:291–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutervent P, Thiry Y, Levchuk S, Yoschenko V, Henner P, Madoz-Escande C, Leclerc E, Colle C, Kashparov V (2013) Translocation of 125I, 75Se and 36Cl to wheat edible parts following wet foliar contamination under field conditions. J Environ Radioact 121:43–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA Technical Report Series No. 424 (2004) Remediation of sites with dispersed radioactive contamination. Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • IAEA Technical Report Series No. 442 (2006) Remediation of sites with mixed contamination of radioactive and other hazardous substances. Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Igarashi Y, Aoyama M, Hirose K, Miyao T, Nemoto K, Tomita M, Fujikawa T (2003) Resuspension: decadal monitoring time series of the anthropogenic radioactivity deposition in Japan. J Radiat Res 44:319–328

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kobashi A (2009) Radioactivity of 137Cs in papers and migration of the nuclide in the environment. J Nucl Radiochem Sci 10:1–5

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lindahl P, Maquet A, Hult M, Gasparro J, Marissens G, Gonzáles de Orduña R (2011) Natural radioactivity in winter wheat from organic and conventional agricultural systems. J Environ Radioact 102:163–169

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu M, Dong F, Yan X, Zeng W, Hou L, Pang X (2010) Biosorption of uranium by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and surface interactions under culture conditions. Bioresour Technol 101:8573–8580

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Zhou XJ, Wang TS (2013) Mechanism of uranium (VI) uptake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae under environmentally relevant conditions: Batch, HRTEM, and FTIR studies. J Hazard Mater 262:297–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lotfi M, Notaro M, Azimi-Garakani D, Cubadda R, Santaroni GP, Tommasino L (1990) Concentrations of radiocaesium in Italian durum wheat and its products after the Chernobyl accident. J Environ Radioact 11:177–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mkandawire M, Dudel EG (2002) Uranium attenuation from tailing waters by floating macrophyte Lemna gibba L. In: Merkel JB, Planer-Friedrich B, Wolkersdorfer C (eds) Uranium in the aquatic environment. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Mkandawire M, Dudel EG (2005) Accumulation of arsenic in Lemna gibba L. (duckweed) in tailing waters of two abandoned uranium mining sites in Saxony, Germany. Sci Total Environ 336:81–89

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mkandawire M, Dudel GE (2007) Are Lemna spp. effective phytoremediation agents? Bioremediat Biodivers Bioavailab 1:56–71 (Global Science Books)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mkandawire M, Teixeira da Silva JA, Dudel GE (2014) The Lemna bioassay: contemporary issues as the most standardised plant bioassay for aquatic toxicology. Crit Rev Environ Sci Tech 44:154–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murariu M, Popa K, Drăgan ES, Drochioiu G (2009) Synthetic cysteine-peptide and its relation with heavy and radioactive metals. Rev Roum Chim 54:741–747

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohmori Y, Kajikawa M, Nishida S, Tanaka N, Kobayashi NI, Tanoi K, Furukawa J, Fujiwara T (2014) The effect of fertilization on cesium concentration of rice grown in a paddy field in Fukushima prefecture in 2011 and 2012. J Plant Res 127:67–71

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okuda M, Hashiguchi T, Joyo M, Tsukamoto K, Endo M, Matsumaru K, Goto Yamamoto N, Yamaoka H, Suzuki K, Shimoi H (2013) The transfer of radioactive cesium and potassium from rice to sake. J Biosci Bioeng 116:340–346

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick L (2002) Mercury toxicity and antioxidants: Part I. Role of glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of mercury toxicity. Altern Med Rev 7:456–471

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrescu L, Bilal E (2003) Plant availability of uranium in contaminated soil from Crucea Mine (Romania). Environ Geosci 10:123–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piccirillo C, Pereira SIA, Marques APGC, Pullar RC, Tobaldi DM, Pintado ME, Castro PML (2013) Bacteria immobilization on hydroxyapatite surface for heavy metals removal. J Environ Manag 121:87–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polischuk VP, Shevchenko TP, Budzanivska IG, Shevchenko AV, Demyanenko FP, Boyko AL (2005) Effects of radioactive and chemical pollution on plant virus frequency distribution. In: Bréchignac F, Desmet G (eds) NATO security through science series environmental security, vol 2 equidosimetry. Springer, Kiev

    Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Cecal A, Drochioiu G, Pui A, Humelnicu D (2003) Saccharomyces cerevisiae as uranium bioaccumulating material: contact time, pH and anion nature influence. Nukleonika 48:121–125

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Cecal A, Humelnicu D, Cărăuş I, Drăghici CL (2004) Removal of 60Co2+ and 137Cs+ ions from low radioactive solutions using Azolla caroliniana Willd. water fern. Cent Eur J Chem 2:434–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Palamaru MN, Iordan AR, Humelnicu D, Drochioiu G, Cecal A (2006) Laboratory analysis of 60Co2+, 65Zn2+ and 55+59Fe3+ radiocations uptake by Lemna minor. Isot Environ Health Stud 42:87–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Murariu M, Molnar R, Schlosser G, Cecal A, Drochioiu G (2007) Effect of radioactive and non-active mercury on wheat germination and the anti-toxic role of glutathione. Isot Environ Health Stud 43:105–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Tykva R, Podracká E, Humelnicu D (2008a) 226Ra translocation from soil to spontaneous vegetation growing in the Crucea (Romania) uranium mining area. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 278:211–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Murariu M, Cecal A, Drochioiu G (2008b) Protective role of cysteine against the radiotoxic cations within several germination experiments. In: Collery P, Maymard I, Theophanides T, Khassanova L, Collery T (eds) Metal ions in biology and medicine, vol 10 John Libbey Euro text, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Popa K, Pui A, Tănase C, Irimia R (2010) Monitoring of 226Ra and 137Cs radioisotopes on Bistrita Valley and their translocation in spontaneous macromycetes. Rev Chim (Bucharest) 61:894–896

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popa K (2013) Sorption of uranium on lead hydroxyapatite. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 298:1527–1532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pulhani VA, Dafauti S, Hedge AG, Sharma RM, Mishra UC (2005) Uptake and distribution of natural radioactivity in wheat plants from soil. J Environ Radioact 79:331–346

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selvakumar R, Aravindh S, Kaushik CP, Katarani VG, Thorat VS, Gireesan P, Jayavignesh V, Swamanathan K, Raj K (2011) Screening of silver nanoparticles containing carbonized yeast cells for adsorption of few long-lived active radionuclides. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 288:629–633

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor GW (1940) Statistical methods applied to experiments in agriculture and biology. The Iowa State College Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Soudek P, Podracká E, Vágner M, Vanĕk T, Petřik P, Tykva R (2004) 226Ra uptake from soils into different plant species. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 262:187–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudek P, Petrová Š, Benešová D, Tykva R, Vaňková R, Vaňek T (2007) Comparison of 226Ra nuclide from soil by tree woody species Betula pendula, Sambucus nigra and Alnus glutinosa during the vegetation period. J Environ Radioact 97:76–82

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinhauser G, Brandl A, Johnson TE (2014) Comparison of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents: a review of the environmental impacts. Sci Total Environ 470–471:800–817

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tănase C, Pui A, Oprea A, Popa K (2009) Translocation of radioactivity from substrate to macromycetes in the Crucea (Romania) uranium mining area. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 281:563–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tykva R, Podracká E (2005) Bioaccumulation of 226Ra in the plants growing near uranium facilities. Nukleonika 50:S25–S27

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tykva R, Novák J, Podracká E, Popa K (2009) Bioaccumulation of uranium from waste water using different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nukleonika 54:143–148

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Liu H (2013) Research advances in radioactive wastewater treatment using membrane processes. Acta Sci Circumst 33:2639–2656

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss Y, Rubin B, Shulman A, Ben Shir I, Keinan E, Wolf S (2006) Determination of plant resistance to carbamate herbicidal compounds inhibiting cell division and early growth by seed and plantlets bioassays. Nat Protoc 1:2282–2287

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolterbeek HT, van der Meer AJGM, Dielemans U (2000) On the variability of plant bio-concentration factors (BCF) of environmental radionuclides: a case study on the effects of surface film and free space on the interpretation of 99mTcO4 sorption in duckweed. Sci Total Environ 257:177–190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi N, Seki K, Komamura M, Kurishima K (2007) Long-term mobility of fallout 90Sr in ploughed soil, and 90Sr uptake by wheat grain. Sci Total Environ 372:595–604

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karin Popa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Murariu, M., Drochioiu, G., Cecal, A., Popa, K. (2014). Contributions to the State of the Art in Radionuclides–Plants Interaction Field. In: Gupta, D., Walther, C. (eds) Radionuclide Contamination and Remediation Through Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07665-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics