Title: Chernobyl Nuclear Plant The Use of Phytoremediation to Clean Up Soils
1Chernobyl Nuclear PlantThe Use of
Phytoremediation to Clean Up Soils
Allie Williams Kathleen Paintin
Ruth Calderon Kelli Bird
PSES 3411 Dr. Robinson November 29, 2004
2Chernobyl Introduction
- April 25th -26th 1986
- Former USSR, now known as Ukraine
- Most notable industrial accident in history of
humankind
3Chernobyl Introduction(continued)
- Released one hundred times more radiation than
the atom bombs dropped over Hiroshima and
Nagasaki - 30 people died immediately
- A 20- mile radius had to be evacuated due to
high radiation levels - 135,000 people were evacuated
4Extent of Radioactive Contamination
- The majority of the contamination lies in Belarus
- Up to 70 of the fallout was located here
- Of the total area of Belarus, 22 was
contaminated with more than 1 Ci/km2 137Cesium - Radiation also spread over large parts of
Scandinavia, Poland, and the Baltic states, as
well as southern Germany, Switzerland, northern
France, and England
5 6Consequences For the Soil
- Where 137cesium has been deposited in the soil,
it will persist for years in the uppermost layers - The forest floors are still particularly severely
contaminated - Roots, needles, and leaves store radiation like a
filter - In clay and sandy soils, the downward migration
of cesium is very slow
7Food Chain Bioaccumulation
- Contaminants in the soil come up through the
plants - 137Cesium
- Strontium
- Plutonium
- Iodine
8Food Chain Bioaccumulation(continued)
- Grazers such as livestock and wildlife feed on
these contaminated plants - Contaminants accumulate in the meat and milk
products - In the rivers and lakes of the contaminated
territories, radiation has concentrated
particularly in the sediments - Because fish are bottom feeders, they are
contaminated as well - Fish, milk, and other meat products are consumed
by humans
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10Prevention of Toxin Spreading
- Determined that livestock should feed only on
uncontaminated plants - Very hard to control
- Avoid eating contaminated food
- Also very hard to control
11Food From Contaminated Areas
- Mushrooms, berries, and game taken form an
important part of the rural diet - Elderly women collect mushrooms from
contamination site - Contamination in food not an issue of concern any
longer - All children have immune system deficiencies,
frequent bronchitis, low hemoglobin levels, and
heart problems due to radiation
12Phytoremediation
- Dr. Raskin of Rutgers University Biotechnology
Center - Use of green plants or vascular plants to clean
up or control hazardous wastes - A generic term used for several different
methods in which plants can be used to clean up
contamination - Used mainly at Chernobyl for cleaning up 137Cesium
13Benefits of Phytoremediation
- Aesthetic benefits
- Low energy costs due to solar energy
- Can break down some organic wastes
- Cost effective
14Benefits of Phytoremediation(continued)
- Requires less human contact with contaminated
area compared to chemical or physical remediation - Environmentally safe
- Does not produce additional waste
- Waste-eating bacteria are self sustaining
- Do not require additional products in the soil to
survive
15Drawbacks to Phytoremediation
- Disposal of harvested plants
- Technologies, today are still in early research
stages - Lengthy to work
- Stop wildlife from feeding on plants
- Small number of known plant species that have
remediative abilities
16Types of Phytoremediation
- Rhizofiltration
- Phytoextraction
- Phytostabilization
- Phytodegradation
- Phytovolatilization
- Rhizodegradation
17Rhizofiltration(metals)
- Roots systems in plants absorb contaminants such
as heavy metals and radionuclides from water and
take these contaminants up to the leaves and
stems - Similar to phytoextraction
18Phytoextraction(metals)
- Uses plants to absorb contaminants such as heavy
metals from soil into roots and harvestable parts
like stems and leaves - Also known as phytoaccumulation
- Used at Chernobyl
19Phytostablization(metals)
- Uses plants which are tolerant of contaminants in
soil such as heavy metals to reduce contaminants
mobility and prevent further environmental
contamination - Leaching into groundwater
- Becoming airborne by wind erosion
20Phytodegradation(organics)
- Plant assisted bioremediation in which
degredation of contaminants such as various
organic compounds occurs during a plants
metabolic process or is influenced by plant root
and soil microbial activity
21Rhizodegradation(organics)
- Breakdown of organic contaminants in the soil by
soil dwelling microbes which is enhanced by the
rhizospheres presence
22Phytovolatilization(organics)
- Plants uptake contaminants which are water
soluable and release them into the atmosphere as
they transpire the water - The contaminants volatilize into the air
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24Efficiency of Phytoremediation
- Relies on plant properties and the activities of
micro-organisms associated with the rhizosphere - Measured by the ability of the plant to remove
large quantities of contaminants as quickly as
possible while doing little or no harm to the
environment
25Efficiency of Phytoremediation(continued)
- Largely based on its benefits over other forms of
remediation
26Studies
- February 1996, Phytotech (a New Jersey based
company) - Helianthus (sunflower)
- 1998, Phytotech, Consolidated Growers and
Processors (CGP), and the Ukraines Institute of
Bast Crops - Cannabis (hemp)
27Studies(continued)
- Brassica juncea (indian mustard)
- Uptake of some heavy metals, radionuclides, and
other inorganic cnemicals - Phytotech
- Entry et. Al, 1999
- Paspalum notatum (Bahjia grass)
- Sorghum halpense (johnson grass)
- Panicum virgatum (switch grass)
28Studies(continued)
- Consolidated Growers and Processors (CGP),
Phytotech, and Ukraines Institute of Bast Crops - 1998
- Planted industrial hemp, Cannabis, to remove
contaminants from Chernobyl - Dr. Slavik Dushendov of Phytotech
- One of the best phytoremediative plants which has
been found to reduce contaminants
29Cannabis sativa
30Fruit of Brassica juncea
31Helianthus
32Conclusions
- Phytoremediation is great in theory, however, the
risks out weigh the benefits at this point - Disturbing the soil even slightly poses the risk
of releasing contaminants further into the
environment - There is a risk to animals after consuming the
toxic plant tissues - Can circulate throughout the food chain
33Conclusions(continued)
- Though phytoremediation technologies are still
primarily in research and development, they have
shown a potential for success - Increases interest in both public and private
sectors to help develop phytoremediation into a
viable industry
34Technical Hurdles That Must Be Over Come
- Identifying more species that have remediative
abilities - Optimizing phytoremediation processes
- Proper plant selection
- Agronomic practices
- Increasing understanding of the uptake
translocation, and metabolization of contaminants
35Technical Hurdles That Must Be Over Come
- Identifying genes responsible for uptake and/or
degradation for transfer to appropriate high
biomass plants - Decreasing the length of time needed for
phytoremediation to work - Protecting livestock and wildlife from feeding on
plants used for remediation
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40THE END