The influence of stress factors on the concentration of radionuclids in some Asteraceae and Apiaceae plants

The study followed the influence of stress factors - such as growth close to the road, use of fertilization with Ti ions and Aphis-infestation on accumulation of radionuclids in medicinal plant species belonging to Asteraceae and Apiaceae family. The analyzed plants contained various radionuclids of caesium, radium and potassium. The contents of radium was - as in the case of caesium - low in the majority of samples. The analysis of plants also revealed important quantities of radioactive potassium isotope 4 0 K. The plants collected from roadsides with high traffic intensity accumulate much more of thoese radionuclids. The fertilization the Ti ions of mentioned plants influenced not only the height and the developement, but resulted in changes of radionuclids content as well. Leaves, fruits and roots ofPastinaca sativa reacted differently to pest treatments. Control plants leaves accumulated more 2 1 0 Pb than Aphis-infested ones. The roots of control plants were richest in 4 0 K.