Application of MRI in the examination of the effects of Kolontár red mud catastrophe on plants
Abstract
The purpose of our research is applying MRI equipment used by human diagnostics in examination of plant samples from the territory of Kolontár red mud catastrophe. Colza (Brassica napus L.) was selected as test plant and collected from the agricultural fields covered by red mud. As control plant, colza from the experimental field of University of Pannonia was used. MRI measurements were carried out at Kaposvár University Institute of Diagnostics and Oncoradiology. The water content of the samples was determined. MRI measurements were made with T1 (it measures the vitality of the cells) and T2 (it measures the water content) relaxation time. 1% of difference could be experienced between the water contents of the control and the polluted colza. MRI measurements of T1 give explicit result that the part of the plants covered by red mud was much damaged in consequence of high basic pH. Intensity signals of T2 were higher for the polluted plant samples than for the control. The researches proved that MRI equipment can be used for examining the effects of red mud as a pollutant on plants in – in-vivo – circumstances.
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