title: Effects of chronic exposure in populations of Koeleria gracilis Pers. from the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan.
abstract: Morphological and cytogenetic abnormalities were examined in crested hairgrass (Koeleria gracilis Pers.) populations inhabiting the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (STS), Kazakhstan. Sampling of biological material and soil was carried out during 3 years (2005-2007) at 4 sites within the STS. Activity concentrations of 10 radionuclides and 8 heavy metals content in soils were measured. Doses absorbed by plants were estimated and varied, depending on the plot, from 4 up to 265 mGy/y. The frequency of cytogenetic alterations in apical meristem of germinated seeds from the highly contaminated plot significantly exceeded the level observed at other plots with lower levels of radioactive contamination during all three years of the study. A significant excess of chromosome aberrations, typical for radiation exposure, as well as a dependence of the frequency of these types of mutations on dose absorbed by plants were revealed. The results indicate the role radioactive contamination plays in the occurrence of cytogenetic effects. However, no radiation-dependent morphological alterations were detected in the progeny of the exposed populations. Given that the crested hairgrass populations have occupied the radioactively contaminated plots for some 50 years, adaptation to the radiation stress was not evident. The findings obtained were in agreement with the benchmark values proposed in the FASSET and ERICA projects to restrict radiation impacts on biota.
authors: Department of Radioecology, Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, Zvezdnaya str., 6-11 109 km, 249032 Obninsk, Kaluga Region, Russia. stgeraskin@gmail.com
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Geras'kin
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Oudalova
authors: V G
authors: VG
authors: Dikarev
authors: N S
authors: NS
authors: Dikareva
authors: E M
authors: EM
authors: Mozolin
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hinton
authors: S I
authors: SI
authors: Spiridonov
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Copplestone
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Garnier-Laplace
mesh_terms: D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D007623:Kazakhstan; D009689:Nuclear Warfare; D006109:Poaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive