STUDY OF 137Cs ACCUMULATION BY ALGAE Cladophora fracta IN WATER BODIES OF THE SOUTHERN BUG RIVER MOUTH

Abstract

The work investigated the dynamics of the content of the radionuclide 137Cs in the filamentous algae Cladophora fracta of the Arbuzynka, Mertvovod and Pivdennyi Bug rivers during 1985–2025. An assessment of the radiation situation in aquatic ecosystems hydrodynamically connected to the sewage pond of the South Ukrainian NPP was carried out. It was established that the maximum levels of specific activity of 137Cs were observed in 1988–1990, after which there was a gradual decrease in the indicators. The increased content of the radionuclide in the algae of the Arbuzynka and Mertvovod rivers is explained by the uneven runoff from the catchments and the additional impact of liquid discharges from the NPP. In 2025, the radiation situation was characterized by stable pollution indicators.