Bryophytes and lichens as fallout originated radionuclide indicators in the Svalbard archipelago (High Arctic)

Arctic environment is very sensitive to anthropogenic pollutants, especially in terms of radionuclide contamination which persists in polar regions due to very slow biological turnover rate. The main aim of the study was to determine concentrations of 137Cs in selected cryptogamic species (bryophytes and lichens) in different areas of Svalbard archipelago in the period 1985–2017 and thus recognize the level of 137Cs contamination in Svalbard as well as to indicate the best fallout originated radionuclide bioindicators in the Arctic region. The 137Cs activity was measured in 31 samples of cryptogams (Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach., Cetrariella delisei (Bory ex Schaer.) Karnefelt & A. Thell, Flavocetraria nivalis (L.) Karnefelt & A. Thell, Ptilidium ciliare (L.) Hampe, Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid., Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske, Sphaerophorus globosus (Huds.) Vain.) collected between 1985 and 2017 at six different locations in Svalbard: Adventdalen, Bellsund, Kaffioyra, Ny-Alesund, Petuniabukta, and Sorkapp Land. Analyses showed that species R. lanuginosum and C. delisei can be recommended as the best bioindicators of changes in radioactivity level in the Arctic region.