Contemporary patterns of radioactive contamination in black alder across different forest site conditions in the Polissia region of Ukraine

This study investigates the current distribution of 137Cs in the tissues and organs of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) growing under different forest site conditions in the Polissia region of Ukraine. The most intensive uptake of the radionuclide into various parts of the trunk and crown was observed in wet, relatively fertile forest sites. The aggregated transfer factor of 137Cs increased from moist to wet, relatively fertile conditions, with values changing as follows: from 0.5 to 5.2 m2·kg-1·10-3 in leaves, from 1.7 to 8.3 m2·kg-1·10-3 in one-year-old shoots, from 1.0 to 4.9 m2·kg-1·10-3 in two-year-old shoots, from 0.7 to 3.9 m2·kg-1·10-3 in fine branches, from 0.5 to 2.9 m2·kg-1·10-3 in coarse branches, from 2.1 to 10.2 m2·kg-1·10-3 in fruits, and from 2.5 to 14.1 m2·kg-1·10-3 in male inflorescences. Statistically significant differences in aggregated transfer factors were observed among nearly all crown components across moist, damp, and wet site conditions. Additionally, a slight increase in the 137Cs content was recorded from the base to the top of the crown in wet, relatively fertile sites.