Effects of accompanying anions on cesium retention and translocation via droplets on soybean leaves

• Published in: Journal of environmental radioactivity Vol. 126; pp. 232 - 238
• Main Authors: Yan, Dong, Zhao, Ye, Lu, Anxiang, Wang, Shuifeng, Xu, Dongyu, Zhang, Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accompanying anion; anions; Anions - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Cesium; Cesium - chemistry; Cesium - metabolism; diet; droplets; energy; exposure duration; foliar uptake; Food toxicology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycine max; Glycine max - metabolism; greenhouses; humans; iodides; Leaves; Medical sciences; nanoparticles; Plant Leaves - metabolism; pods; Radiocontamination; Retention; roots; scanning electron microscopy; SEM-EDX; soybeans; stems; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Toxicology; Translocation; washing; X-radiation; Translocation; Leaves; SEM-EDX; Cesium; Retention; Accompanying anion; Scanning electron microscopy; Radioactive contamination; Plant leaf; Alkali metal; Droplet; Dispersive spectrometry; Glycine max; Plant; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Distribution; Spermatophyta; Food
• ISSN: 0265-931X; 1879-1700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.08.009

Plant foliar uptake and translocation is an important pathway for the migration of radiocesium to the human diet. This study reports the effects of accompanying anions (NO3−, SO42−, CO32−, and I-) on cesium retention and translocation. An experiment to simulate cesium retention and translocation was conducted in a greenhouse by applying droplets of stable cesium solutions to the upper surface of four soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] trifoliate leaves. The average percentages of cesium retention with the accompanying anions NO3−, SO42−, CO32−, and I- on the leaves were 7.2, 21.5, 49.3, and 10.2%, respectively. Retention values of the four treatments were stable during the 3-day exposure period, indicating that cesium could be absorbed and penetrate the cuticle quickly once it was dissolved. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that particles containing cesium remained on the leaf surfaces after washing. Also, nano-sized particles containing cesium were observed inside the leaf tissues. Cesium concentrations in the uncontaminated leaves, pods, stems, and roots increased during the study period indicating cesium redistribution from the contaminated leaves. •A difference in retention percentages depend on the accompanying anions.•High and positive correlations between retention percentages and concentrations in saturated solution.•SEM-EDX analysis presented cesium absorbed on and penetrated leaves surfaces.•An absence of accompanying anions effects on redistribution to organs.