Radiological effects on populations of Oligochaeta in the Chernobyl contaminated zone

Title: Radiological effects on populations of Oligochaeta in the Chernobyl contaminated zone

Author: V.G. Tsytsugina, G.G. Polikarpov

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 66, Issues 1–2, 2003, Pages 141-154

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(02)00120-0

Keywords: Oligochaeta; The Chernobyl NPP accident; Reproduction; Chromosome aberrations

Abstract: A detailed investigation of 3 populations of Oligochaete species (Dero obtusa, Nais pseudobtusa and Nais pardalis) has been carried out in a contaminated lake of the close-in Chernobyl zone and in a control lake. Hydrochemical indices and concentrations of heavy metals, chloro-organic compounds and ⁹⁰Sr in bottom sediments have been measured. Absorbed doses were calculated on the basis of the results of radiochemical analysis and assessed directly with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD). Stimulation of paratomous division (asexual reproduction) was found in one species of worm (D. obtusa), and activation of sexual reproduction in the two other species studied. An increase in the amount of cytogenetic damage in the somatic cells of worms from the contaminated lake was found and an attempt was made to assess the relative contributions of radiation and chemical exposure on the basis of analyses of inter-cellular aberration distributions and the types of chromosome aberrations observed in the cells.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X02001200

Pollution dynamics of 137CS in Kozhanovskoe Lake in post-Chernobyl period

Title: Pollution dynamics of 137CS in Kozhanovskoe Lake in post-Chernobyl period

Author: Vakulovsky S.M., Kolesnikova L.V., Tertyshnik E.G., Uvarov A.D.

Reference: Gazette “РАДИАЦИОННАЯ БИОЛОГИЯ. РАДИОЭКОЛОГИЯ “ (Radiation Biology, Radioecology), 2009

ISSN: 0869-8031

DOI: 10.1134/S0869803109020106

Keywords: lake, 137cs, contamination

Abstract: In the article dynamics of radio-contamination, after the Chernoby accident, of the low-flow Kozhanovkoe Lake, in Bryanskaya district, is obseved. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of 137Cs contamination Kozhanovskoe Lake in the post-Chernobyl period, the semi-empirical evaluation of the current contamination of the water body well coincides with the experimental ones. Obtains evaluation of integrated reserves of 137Cs in the main components of the lake: the water, sediment and aquatic vegetation in the period 2005-2007.

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=11919683

Agricultural use of the lands under radionuclide contamination in the Voronezh area

Title: Agricultural use of the lands under radionuclide contamination in the Voronezh area

Author: Ovchinnikova T. V.

Reference: Issues on regional ecology (Russian:“ПРОБЛЕМЫ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ ЭКОЛОГИИ”),  5, 2008: 144-147

ISSN: 1728-323x

Keywords: nuclear pollution, agricultural production

Abstract: Agricultural aspects at nuclear pollution of a natural environment play an important, and frequently a determining role in formation of nuclear environment、because person is exposed to influence of radiations of radioactive nuclides during manufacture and consumption of agricultural production.

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=11673657

Analysis of radionuclide wash-off from river basins

Title: Analysis of radionuclide wash-off from river basins

Author: Andreev I.I., Laikin A.I., Platovskikh Y.A.

Reference: Atomic Energy. 110(3), 2011:195-202.

ISSN: 0004-7163

Keywords: river, basin, decontamination, radionuclide migration

Abstract: Introduces the concept of the transfer of exchangeable and non-exchangeable forms of radionuclides into the basin and into the river. On this basis it proposes differential transport equation, allowing to find radionuclides in the soil and their entry into the river at uneven pollution of the basin. Based on measurement data, it determines time dependence of constant flushing of radionuclides.

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=16369187

Long-term dynamics of radioactive 90Sr and 137Cs contamination of small mammals in the Chernobyl zone

Title: Long-term dynamics of radioactive 90Sr and 137Cs contamination of small mammals in the Chernobyl zone

Author: Maklyuk Yu.A., Maksimenko A.M., Gashchak S.P., Bondarkov M.D., Chizhevskii I.V.

Reference:  Russian Journal of Ecology, May 2007, Volume 38, Issue 3, pp 181-189

ISSN: 1067-4136

DOI:  10.1134/S106741360703006X

Keywords: small mammals, 137Cs, 90Sr, radionuclide accumulation

Abstract: Between 1986 and 1994, a decrease in nonalimentary ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs intake and changes in the accessibility of radionuclides in the soil-plant link of their cycle resulted in a 10-to 100-fold decrease in their specific activity (SA) in the bodies of small mammals inhabiting the Chernobyl zone, and a similar decrease was observed in the radionuclide transition factor (TF) in the soil-animal chain. Between 1995 and 2005, no consistent increase or decrease in SA or TF could be revealed against the background of a combined effect of different physicochemical and ecological factors. It is suggested that subsequent changes in the level of radioactive contamination of small mammals will generally reflect only the dynamics of physical ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs decay, but, nevertheless, seasonal and local variations in this level will be significant.

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=14000068

Efficiency of decontaminating agricultural plants from radioactive contamination, depending on their specific contamination by the way of irrigation with water containing radionuclides　

Title: Efficiency of decontaminating agricultural plants from radioactive contamination, depending on their specific contamination by the way of irrigation with water containing radionuclides

Author: Mel’chenko A.I., Mel’chenko E.A., Mel’chenko V.A., Sukhomlinova A.G.

Reference: Proceedings of Kuban State Agrarian University, (Russian: “ТРУДЫ КУБАНСКОГО ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО АГРАРНОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА“), 1(34), 2012:166-172.

ISSN: 1999-1703

Keywords: radionuclide accumulation, agricultural products, ¹³⁴Cs; 65Zn (zinc); 115m Cd (cadmium); 238U (uranium)

Abstract: Describes diverse conditions of accumulation of radionuclides in agricultural plants, depending on various ways of irrigation with contaminated water on the plants: by rain, furrow, drip and intersoil. Two ways of decontaminating plants: 1- washing after contamination, 2- cleaning. Experiments with radionuclides 134Cs, 65Zn, 115m Cd and 238U.

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=17391353

Heterogeneous electrochemical systems for purification of water contaminated with organic complexing agents and radionuclides

Title: Heterogeneous electrochemical systems for purification of water contaminated with organic complexing agents and radionuclides

Author: Gontar I.A., Kozlov K.B., Lavrov B.A.

Reference: Water: chemistry and ecology (Russian: “ВОДА: ХИМИЯ И ЭКОЛОГИЯ“), 2012

ISSN: 2072-8158

Keywords: conductivity, current flow, organic complexing agents, radioactive waste, resistance, wastewater

Abstract: The possibility of purification of liquid radioactive wastes from water dissolved organically complex agents have been discussed. The process was held in electrochemical reactor, its operation is based on the physicochemical processes accompanying the flow of electric current through the phase boundary leading to the chemical transformation of hazardous compounds into harmless gases and water.

URL: http://watchemec.ru/en/article/24679/

Method for Removing Radionuclides from Soils, Patent RU 2388084 (2008)

Title: Method for Removing Radionuclides from Soils, Patent RU 2388084 (2008)

Author: Dmitriev S.A., Barinov A.S., Kuptsov V.M.

Reference: State Unitary Enterprise MosNPO Radon, 2010

Keywords: patent, decontamination, sandy soils, radionuclides

Abstract: The possibilities of reagent treatment of the finely dispersed (

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=18536553

URL: http://www.findpatent.ru/patent/238/2388085.html (patent)

Genetic consequences of irradiation in scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. population

Title:  Genetic consequences of irradiation in scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. population

Author: Oficerov M.V., Igonina E.V.

Reference: Genetics, (Russian: “ГЕНЕТИКА”) 2009 Feb; 45(2):209-14.

ISSN: 1022-7954

DOI: 10.1134/S1022795409020082

Keywords: Scots pine, contamination, genetics

Abstract: The genetic consequences of irradiation were studied in a Scots pine population from a region contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl meltdown. Mutations of isozyme loci were not detected in seeds collected from trees of the first post-meltdown generation in 2004. The frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations in the root meristem of seedlings grown from the seeds did not differ from the control level. A deviation from the expected ratio 1:1 was observed for some isozyme alleles in endosperms of seeds obtained from heterozygous trees.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19334615

Detecting contamination-induced tree stress within the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Title: Detecting contamination-induced tree stress within the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Author: Corine Davids, Andrew N Tyler

Reference: Remote Sensing of Environment, Volume 85, Issue 1, 25 April 2003, Pages 30-38

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(02)00184-0

Keywords: Contamination-induced tree stress; Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant; Three Channel Vegetation Index

Abstract: The radioactive contamination from the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) caused significant change in the abundance and distribution of tree species in the exclusion zone. Some 400 ha of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were killed from high levels of contamination and these areas have since been recolonised by silver birch (Betula pendula). Much work has shown that changes in leaf pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids) and biomass as a result of water and nutrient deficiencies and other environmental influences can be detected through spectral reflectance characteristics of leaves. This paper presents the results of a reconnaissance study showing that spectral reflectance measurements can also be used to detect the effect of radionuclide contamination on the vegetation in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Through laboratory and in situ spectroradiometry of silver birch and Scots pine, we demonstrate that the chlorophyll red edge and the Three Channel Vegetation Index (TCHVI) correlate well with specific activities of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in leaves, γ-dose rates and ¹³⁷Cs inventories in soil. The results show that remote sensing has the potential of providing a valuable monitoring technique for assessing the ecological impact of radionuclide contamination.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425702001840