Analysis of Distribution of Radionuclides in Various Organs of Taraxacum officinale Web., Which Grows in Rock Waste Disposal Areas of Coal Pits in Kuznetsk Basin

The regularities of natural (K-40, Th-232, Ra-226) and artificial (Sr-90 and Cs-137) radionuclides accumulation by embryonic soils and various organs of Taraxacum officinale Web. in rock waste disposal areas of the Kedrovsky coal pit in the Kuznetsk Basin were studied. The K-40 natural radionuclide causes major radioactivity of embryonic soils at rock waste disposal areas – its share in the total radioactivity is 91% and the share of artificial radionuclides in embryonic soils is about 1%. The absence of contamination of embryonic soils at rock waste disposal areas with the Sr-90 and Cs-137 artificial radionuclides was revealed. It was determined that the largest values of K-40 weight-average specific activity are typical of the explored organs of Taraxacum officinale Web. It was revealed that the content of the Sr-90 and Cs-137 artificial radionuclides in organs of Taraxacum officinale Web. is ranked as follows: leaves > roots > inflorescences. Cs-137 is more accumulated by Taraxacum officinale Web. and is 1.6...1.8 times larger than the specific activity of Sr-90. The ratios of Sr-90 and Cs-137 accumulation by various organs of Taraxacum officinale Web. are less than unity, which indicates that the plant does not accumulate these radionuclides. Hygienic assessment of the content of artificial radionuclides (Sr-90 and Cs-137) in various organs of Taraxacum officinale Web., which grows at the rock waste disposal area of the Kedrovsky coal pit, did not reveal excessive radiation in conformance with the Sanitary Rules and Regulations (SanPin) 2.3.2.1078-01 developed for plant-based nutritional supplements and is not dangerous for consumers' health.