Uptake of Soil-Derived Carbon into Plants: Implications for Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Abstract

Radiocarbon ( 14 C) is potentially significant in terms of release from deep geological disposal of radioactive waste and incorporation into the biosphere. In this study we investigated the transfer of soil-derived C into two plant species by using a novel approach, where the uptake of soil-derived C into newly cultivated plants was studied on 8000-year leftover peat in order to distinguish between soil-derived and atmospheric C. Two-pool isotope mixing model was used to reveal the fraction of soil C in plants. Our results indicated that although the majority of plant C was obtained from atmosphere by photosynthesis, a significant portion (up to 3−5%) of C in plant roots was derived from old soil. We found that uptake of soil C into roots was more pronounced in ectomycorrhizal Scots pine than in endomycorrhizal reed canary grass, but nonetheless, both species showed soil-derived C uptake in their roots. Although plenty of soil-derived C was available in canopy air for reassimilation by photosynthesis, no trace of soil-derived C was detected in aboveground parts, possibly due to the open canopy. The results suggest that the potential for contamination with 14 C is higher for roots than for leaves.

Effects of marine biofertilisation on Celtic bean carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes: Implications for reconstructing past diet and farming practices

“…The exact mechanism causing this relationship is not obvious, but it may be due to increased uptake of soil 13 C in Plot 2m and Plot 3ac over 2017 to 2018. Previous studies have indicated that plants can take up to 5% carbon from the active soil reservoir 74 . In addition, changes in the biosynthetic pathways for each plant component as a response to marine biofertilisation may also play a part.…”

Implications of Fukushima’s Radioactive Water Discharge on Global Environmental Sustainability

“…This connection highlights the need to consider the broader environmental impacts of radioactive discharge beyond the immediate concerns of radiotoxicity and marine ecosystem health. 11 The interplay of multiple environmental stressors can lead to synergistic effects, where the combined impact of different factors is greater than the sum of their individual effects. For instance, adding radiation stress to already stressed marine ecosystems can exacerbate the overall ecological impact.…”

“…These isotopes can contribute to the formation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ), potent drivers of global warming. This connection highlights the need to consider the broader environmental impacts of radioactive discharge beyond the immediate concerns of radiotoxicity and marine ecosystem health . The interplay of multiple environmental stressors can lead to synergistic effects, where the combined impact of different factors is greater than the sum of their individual effects.…”

Tritium and Carbon-14 Contamination Reshaping the Microbial Community Structure, Metabolic Network, and Element Cycle in the Seawater Environment

“…Tritium can be stored in organisms as tissue-free water tritium (TFWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT). , High-concentration tritium exposure activates microalgal cells’ reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathway. It adversely affects cell growth and metabolism, while carbon-14 can quickly enter marine sediments and be absorbed by marine organisms. − Marine ecosystems rely on microorganisms and microalgae to mediate carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and pollutant degradation cycles. − Therefore, tritium and carbon-14 pollution can have severe ecological risks in marine environments.…”