Impact of Heavy Metals on the Plant’s Post-Radiation Recovery Process

Abstract

Present research discusses experimental results of simultaneous action of heavy metals’ different concentrations and radiation on the intensity of post-radiation recovery in Lemna minor L. The effect caused by the heavy metals was modeling via adding cadmium and zinc ions into the plant’s medium during its cultivation. It was shown that at specific concentrations zinc ions have capability to increase intenstiy of plant’s post-radiation recovery under irradiation with relatively low doses. It should be noted that similar phenomenon was not detected while using cadmium ions. At all cadmium ion concentrations, used in the experiment, increase in the negative effects of gamma radiation was observed. Moreover, increasing the zinc ion concentrations resulted in nullifying of all the positive effects, as well as with the use of cadmium the negative effect caused by radiation exposure was increased.