[Spatial Distribution of ¹³7Cs in Soil of Spruce Forest in the Distant Zone of Chernobyl Fallout].

The vertical distribution of ¹³7Cs in Albeluvisols of the spruce forest in the Roslavl district of Smolensk region was investigated. The statistical characteristics of spatial variability and distribution laws for the activity con- centrations and activity depositions of ¹³7Cs in upper soil layers (forest litter, 0-5, 5-10, 10-19 cm) were de- termined. Positive correlations between the height, crown length of spruce trees and the content of ¹³7Cs in the soil under them were revealed. The regularities of spatial configuration of ¹³7Cs contamination in soil were related to the parcel structure of spruce forest. The lateral trends for distribution of 137Cs along the tessers un- der spruce and during the transfer to the open positions between the trees were recorded.

[On the problem of biodiagnostics under conditions of radioactive contamination].

The possibilities of biodiagnostics methods (bioindication and bioassay) have been analyzed for conditions of radioactive contamination of natural ecosystems components. The prospects of using biodiagnostics data to address some practical radioecology problems are discussed. The data on dynamics of long-term indicators in the ecosystems contaminated after the Chernobyl accident are shown. The authors have formulated a number of provisions relating to the accumulative bioindication for structural components of forest ecosystems (arboreal and herbaceous vegetation, mosses, lichens, higher fungi).

[The role of vegetation cover in regulation of fluxes of the technogenic radionuclides at the different stages after radioactive fallout].

In remote period after the radioactive fallout the biological cycle of 137Cs in pine forests of northern forest-steppe zone and Bryanskoe Polissye become different. In pine forests (northern forest-steppe zone) with dark grey forest soil 137Cs flux to the soil with litterfall exceeds its influx to the vegetation by a factor of 5. Thus biological cycle of 137Cs differs from the cycle of stable K and till now its main characteristic feature is domination of 137Cs flux to the soil with litterfall. In pine forests (Bryanskoe Polissye zone) with podzolic illuvialiron sandy soil annual 137Cs influx to above-ground vegetation via root uptake exceeds its return to the soil with litterfall. Under these conditions biological cycle of 137Cs approaches it to the biological cycle of stable K.

[The concentration and distribution of 137Cs in soils of forest and agricultural ecosystems of Tula Region].

The paper deals with a comparative study of 137Cs contamination in forest, old arable and cultivated soils of Tula Region. Initial interception of Chernobyl derived 137Cs is higher in forest ecosystems: oak-forest > birch-forest > pine-forest > agricultural ecosystems. Vertical migration of 137Cs in deeper layers of soils was intensive in agricultural ecosystems: cultivated soils > old arable soils > birch-forest soils > oak-forest soils > pine-forest soils. In study have been evaluated spatial variability of 137Cs in soil and asymmetrical distribution, that is a skew to the right. Spatial heterogeneity of 137Cs in agricultural soils is much lower than in forest soils. For cultivated soil are determined the rate of resuspension, which equal to 6.1 x 10(-4) day(-1). For forest soils are described the 137Cs concentration in litter of different ecosystems. The role of main accumulation and barrier of 137Cs retain higher layers of soils (horizon A1(A1E) in forest, horizon Ap in agricultural ecosystems) in long-term forecast after Chernobyl accident.

[Radioecological problems in coastal landscapes of the Sea of Azov].

The features of the spatial distribution, of the migration, and of the accumulation of natural (232Th) and manmade (137Cs) radioactive nuclides in the coastal landscapes of the Sea of Azov are studied. It was shown, that the specific activity of 232Th in the accumulation of the so-called "black sands" was shown as high as 6000 Bq/kg, that increases the natural geochemical background in 200 times. The impact of aerial transfer of the "black sands" on 232Th migration and accumulation in the soil-plant system was clarified. The 232Th distribution down the soil profile suggests that the "black sands" are likely the product of the erosion of the coastal parent materials enriched by natural radionuclides. In general, the specific activity of 137Cs in the beach sand is not high and it is close to the background (global fallout) value. It was determined that 137Cs content in the coastal ecosystems is connected only by aerial pathway as a part of global and Chernobyl-born fallout.

[137Cs distribution and accumulation in the tissues of cultivated fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus)].

The authors examined 137Cs accumulation and distribution in different structures and tissues of Pleurotus ostreatus cultivated under laboratory conditions. The fungi were shown to concentrate 137Cs. A higher concentrations of the radionuclides in the fungi compared to their substrate is manifested at the first stages of the fruit body formation, the maximum content of 137Cs is accumulated by fungi in the middle of bearing stage. The fungus tissues are different by their accumulative capacity as follows (ascending range): central, more dense part of the stipe < stipe < mycelium < cap < generative tissues. 137Cs accumulation in the fruit bodies depends also on the fungus size and age.

[Basic features of seasonal and multi-year dynamics of Cs-137 and Sr-90 in wood]. / Osnovnye zakonomernosti sezonnoi i mnogoletnei dinamik nakopleniia 137Cs i 90Sr v drevesine.

Basic features of seasonal and multiyear dynamics of accumulation of Chernobyl-derived 137Cs and 90Sr in wood are considered. Seasonal variation in the radionuclide concentration are shown to be more regular and predictable than the multiyear variation. Seasonal dynamics of 137Cs is opposite by trend to that of 90Sr. The multiyear dynamics of both 137Cs and 90Sr in the wood is variable and depends on chemical nature of individual radionuclide, type of landscape, kinetics of the radionuclide plant-available forms, and irreversible fixation of the radionuclides in the root-abundant soil layer.

[The biogeochemistry of the radionuclides of the Chernobyl release in the forest ecosystems of the European portion of the CIS]. / Biogeokhimiia radionuklidov Chernobyl'skogo vybrosa v lesnykh ékosistemakh Evropeiskoi chasti SNG.

The 9-years dynamic of Chernobyl-derived radionuclides in the vegetation and soil covers of the forest ecosystems of the European part of the CIS is considered. The quantitative estimation has been done for main fluxes of Cs-137 in the forests of automorphic landscapes: influx to the vegetation, return with the litterfall, stem flow and throughfall, vertical migration in the soil profile (including intrasoil flow), and redistribution within the system of geochemically connected landscapes.

Cs-137 content in the mushrooms of radioactive contaminated zones of the European part of the CIS.

Samples of different species of mushrooms were collected in the forests contaminated by Chernobyl (ChNPP) accident fallout debris. Sampling sites were located at a distance of 5-200 km from Chernobyl NPP. Transfer factors (TF) for Cs-137 from soil to mushrooms varied from 12 to 5060 nCi kg-1/Ci km-2; TF variability depended on the distance from ChNPP, mushroom species and growth conditions. The highest concentrations of Cs-137 were observed in Paxillus involutus and Xerocomus badius. These species are suggested as bioindicators of radioactive contamination.