The cooling pond of Ignalina NPP as a model system evaluating effect of radioactive, chemical and thermal pollution to aquatic plants

Abstract

The scope of this research included an evaluation of the influence of radioactive, thermal and chemical pollution on ecotoxicological state of Lake Drūkšiai – the cooling pond of Ignalina NPP during the long-term investigations (1988–2009). The accumulation of 137Cs, 60Co and 54Mn in hydrophytes and bottom sediments of Lake Drūkšiai, as well as the determination of toxicity and genotoxicity of water and bottom sediments of monitoring stations of this Lake and the assessment of the impact of discharges of the Ignalina NPP on radioecological and ecotoxicological state of Lake Drūkšiai were performed. The standard radioecological and ecotoxicological methods were used performing these investigations. It was found that radioecological situation of Lake Drūkšiai after 1996 is quite good. The ecotoxicological situation of the Lake changed little during 1988–2009, however, in some cases tendencies of the toxicity increase in water and bottom sediments is observed. However, it may be claimed that toxic impact of water and bottom sediments of Lake Drūkšiai was caused more not by radioactive pollution, but by the total impact of various toxic substances. Investigations of thermal pollution impact on plants showed that thermal factor can influenced the physiological state of tested plants, consequently, the accumulation levels of radionuclides in plants and inner compartment of cells may be affected.