Heavy metal effect on uptake and translocation of 134Cs and 85Sr in aubergine plants

Aubergine plants were treated either with radionuclides or with heavy metals and subsequently (24 h after) with radionuclides, in order to determine the effects of heavy metals (Zn, Cd and Ni) on the behaviour of radiocesium and radiostrontium in plants; the treatments were carried out at anthesis and when fruits were present. It was observed that the treatment of leaves and fruits with heavy metals did not influence the direct uptake of radionuclides and their translocation. Cs-134 deposited on the surface of the leaves is transferred to the edible parts of plants to the extent of 0.70% (anthesis) and 0.45% (with covered fruits), while the translocation of Sr-85 was found to be negligible, as compared with radiocesium (0.007 and 0.001%, respectively). Strontium activity in fruits is more largely due to direct uptake, while cesium activity in fruits is due to both direct uptake and translocation from leaves. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.