Countermeasures in agricultural production as an effective means of mitigating the radiological consequences of the Chernobyl accident
Title: Countermeasures in agricultural production as an effective means of mitigating the radiological consequences of the Chernobyl accident
Author: R.M. Alexakhin
Reference: Science of The Total Environment, Volume 137, Issues 1–3, 2–4 September 1993, Pages 9-20
DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(93)90374-F
Keywords: Chernobyl accident; agriculture; caesium-137; radioactive contamination; countermeasures
Abstract: In the wake of the Chernobyl accident of 1986, the implementation of a variety of protective measures in agriculture has been the most effective means of reducing the total radiation dose of the population; reduction of external radiation by soil decontamination is much less cost effective. As a result of the agricultural countermeasures, internal doses have been decreased by a factor of approximately three. In Russia, these countermeasures resulted in a decrease of 137Cs accumulation in arable crops by a factor of about 2.3 and in pastures of about 2.8. Reduction of radiocaesium in herbage is one of the most importance factors, since this results in a reduction of 137Cs in milk — the main source of radiation dose in the human diet. Countermeasures used on grazing land included ploughing, liming, application of fertilisers etc. 137Cs in plant crops can be decreased 5–10 times by changing the type of crops cultivated. In natural meadows and pastures and on arable soils without the benefit of treatment, it has been observed that plant uptake of 137Cs decreased with time. The efficiency of different protective measures in agriculture has been assessed in the accident-affected zone.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004896979390374F
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