Title: Agricultural recovery of a formerly radioactive area: I. Establishment of high-resolution quantitative protein map of mature flax seeds harvested from the remediated Chernobyl area
Author: Klubicová, Katarína / Berčák, Michal / Danchenko, Maksym / Skultety, Ludovit / Rashydov, Namik M. / Berezhna, Valentyna V. / Miernyk, Ján A. / Hajduch, Martin
Reference: Phytochemistry, 72 (10), p.1308-1315, Jul 2011
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.11.010
Keywords:
Abstract: In recent years there has been an increasing tendency toward remediation of contaminated areas for agriculture purposes. The study described herein is part of a comprehensive, long-term characterization of crop plants grown in the area formerly contaminated with radioactivity. As a first step, we have established a quantitative map of proteins isolated from mature flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seeds harvested from plants grown in a remediated plot localized directly in Chernobyl town. Flax was selected because it is a crop of economic and historical importance, despite the relative paucity of molecular resources. We used 2-dimensional electrophoresis followed by tandem mass spectrometry to establish a high-resolution seed proteome map. This approach yielded quantitative information for 318 protein spots. Genomic sequence resources for flax are very limited, leaving us with an “unknown function” annotation for 38% of the proteins analyzed including several that comprise very large spots. In addition to the seed storage proteins, we were able to reliably identify 82 proteins many of which are involved with central metabolism.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031942210004310
Title: Modelling multiple dispersion of radionuclides through the environment
Author: Monte, Luigi
Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 101 (2), p.134-139, Feb 2010
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.09.006
Keywords: Modelling; Contaminant migration; Multiple dispersion; Radionuclide migration through soil; Radionuclide migration from catchments
Abstract: The migration of a contaminant through the environment is the result of the transport by a variety of biotic and abiotic carriers which move according to different dispersion mechanisms. Consequently, the patterns of the distribution of a pollutant in the environment cannot be ever explained on the basis of a single migration process or assuming that the concentrations of contaminant in the different kinds of carriers quickly reach the equilibrium condition. The present work discusses two examples (wash-off from catchments and transport through soils of radionuclides) that clearly demonstrate the inadequacy of “single dispersion” models to predict these patterns. On the contrary, models based on multiple dispersion can successfully simulate the particular features of the above mentioned processes. It was demonstrated that the time behaviour of radionuclide migration rates from catchment of different rivers vary within small ranges as a consequence of multiple dispersion. This result can be useful for the development of generic predictive models.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X09002203
Title: Radionuclide migration at experimental polygon at Red Forest waste site in Chernobyl zone. Part 2: Hydrogeological characterization and groundwater transport modeling
Author: Bugai, D. / Skalskyy, A. / Dzhepo, S. / Kubko, Yu. / Kashparov, V. / Van Meir, N. / Stammose, D. / (…) / Martin-Garin, A.
Reference: Applied Geochemistry, 27 (7), p.1359-1374, Jul 2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.09.028
Keywords:
Abstract: ► Strontium-90 migration from the waste trench in Chernobyl zone is studied. ► Results of the detailed hydrogeological characterization program are presented. ► The 1D and 2D models for 90Sr transport in groundwater are developed. ► Model calibrations indicate a need to account for transient geochemical regime. ► Models served useful tools for risk assessment of the waste site.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883292711004185
Title: Resuspension and redistribution of radionuclides during grassland and forest fires in the Chernobyl exclusion zone: part I. Fire experiments
Author: Yoschenko, V.I. / Kashparov, V.A. / Protsak, V.P. / Lundin, S.M. / Levchuk, S.E. / Kadygrib, A.M. / Zvarich, S.I. / (…) / Tschiersch, J.
Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 86 (2), p.143-163, Jan 2006
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2005.08.003
Keywords: Biomass burning; Radioactive aerosol; Resuspension; Inhalation; Dose assessment
Abstract: Controlled burning of experimental plots of forest or grassland in the Chernobyl exclusion zone has been carried out in order to estimate the parameters of radionuclide resuspension, transport and deposition during forest and grassland fires and to evaluate the working conditions of firemen. An increase of several orders of magnitude of the airborne radionuclide concentration was observed in the territory near the fire area. The resuspension factor for 137Cs and 90Sr was determined to range from 10−6 to 10−5 m−1, and for the plutonium radionuclides from 10−7 to 10−6 m−1 (related to the nuclides in the combustible biomass). These values are 2 orders of magnitude lower if they are calculated relatively to the total contamination density (including the nuclides in the soil). The radionuclide fallout along the plume axis is negligible in comparison to the existing contamination. However, the additional inhalation dose for firemen exposed in the affected area can reach the level of the additional external irradiation in the period of their mission. The plutonium nuclides constitute the dominating contribution to the inhalation dose.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X05002456
Title: Residual Chernobyl fallout and Sellafield pollutants found on the Isle of Man
Author: McKenna, P. / Longworth, R.D.
Reference: Science of The Total Environment, 173-174, p.7-14, Dec 1995
DOI: 10.1016/0048-9697(95)04743-3
Keywords: Chernobyl; Sellafield; Radiocaesium; Radioactivity; Isle of Man
Abstract: The Isle of Man is particularly vulnerable to radioactive pollution being located in the middle of the Irish Sea, only 55 km from the Sellafield nuclear site. Paradoxically, radioactive fallout from the accident at Chernobyl is the only significant radioactive pollution on the Island and requires legal restrictions on sheep farming. This paper gives and overview of the occurrence and magnitude of radioactive pollution on the Isle of Man, using results of live-monitoring of the Island’s hill flocks since August 1987, and data selected from the results of laboratory analysis of more than 1000 samples of foodstuffs and environmental materials between 1990 and 1993. Radioactive contamination is of no significance in local agricultural produce, however, about one sixth of the Island’s hill grazing land is still subject to controls. Sellafield pollutants are found only in samples from the marine environment.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0048969795047433
Title: Geochemical influence of waste trench no. 22T at Chernobyl Pilot Site at the aquifer: Long-term trends, governing processes, and implications for radionuclide migration
Author: Bugai, D. / Tkachenko, E. / Van Meir, N. / Simonucci, C. / Martin-Garin, A. / Roux, C. / Le Gal La Salle, C. / Kubko, Yu.
Reference: Applied Geochemistry, 27 (7), p.1320-1338, Jul 2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.09.021
Keywords:
Abstract: ► Groundwater geochemistry data set for a waste trench in Chernobyl zone is analyzed. ► Leaching losses from the trench are governed by degradation of buried organic matter. ► Geochemical impacts decrease in time due to humification of the organic matter. ► Additional factor controlling leaching losses is nutrient element uptake by vegetation. ► Evolution of geochemical regime favors attenuation of groundwater migration of 90Sr.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0883292711004112
Title: Long-term development of the radionuclide exposure of murine rodent populations in Belarus after the Chernobyl accident.
Author: Ryabokon, N I / Smolich, I I / Kudryashov, V P / Goncharova, R I
Reference: Radiation and environmental biophysics, 44 (3), p.169-181, Dec 2005
DOI: 10.1007/s00411-005-0015-2
Keywords:
Abstract: As a determinant of the associated health risks, the behavior of radionuclides in natural ecosystems needs to be better understood. Therefore, the activity concentration of various long-lived radionuclides released due to the Chernobyl accident, and the corresponding contributions to the whole-body dose rate, was studied as a function of time in mammalian indicator species inhabiting the natural forest ecosystems of Belarus, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) and the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollus). The activity concentrations of 137Cs, 134Cs, 90Sr, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Pu and 241Am in soil and in animals were measured at five monitoring sites with different ground deposition of radionuclides at different distances from the destroyed reactor.
URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00411-005-0015-2
Title: The first use of 236 U in the general environment and near a shutdown nuclear power plant
Author: Quinto, F. / Steier, P. / Wallner, G. / Wallner, A. / Srncik, M. / Bichler, M. / Kutschera, W. / (…) / Sabbarese, C.
Reference: Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 67 (10), p.1775-1780, Oct 2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.05.007
Keywords: AMS; Uranium isotopic ratios; 236U
Abstract: We present a first effort to investigate 236U in the environment near a shutdown nuclear power plant far away from highly contaminated sites, by using accelerator mass spectrometry. The detection limit of about 1 pg 236U allowed us to identify a minimal increase of the 236U/238U isotopic ratio correlated to a peak of 137Cs in river sediments downstream of the nuclear power plant, and to detect anthropogenic 236U also upstream, where it is probably not related to the power plant but to global fallout. The 236U content shoved variations of the 236U/238U isotopic ratio in relation to the chemical–physical characteristics of the sediments. This demonstrates the potential of 236U as an environmental tracer, and as an indicator for releases from nuclear facilities.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969804309004072
Title: Mutation rates in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Chernobyl exclusion zone evaluated with amplified fragment-length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and microsatellite markers
Author: Kuchma, Oleksandra / Vornam, Barbara / Finkeldey, Reiner
Reference: Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 725 (1-2), p.29-35, Oct 2011
DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.07.003
Keywords: Mutation rate; Radiation; Pinus sylvestris; Microsatellites; AFLP; Chernobyl
Abstract: ► Somatic mutations in pines exposed to high radiation were investigated. ► Pines from the Chernobyl zone were compared to control material of the same origin. ► SSR and AFLP markers were used to reveal changes in mutation rates. ► No significant differences in the mutation rates of SSRs were observed. ► Three-fold increase in number of mutations was found by the use of AFLP markers.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383571811002130
Title: ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION MONITORING IN THE CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE – HISTORY AND RESULTS 25 YEARS AFTER
Author: Farfan, E. ; Jannik, T.
Reference: HEALTH PHYSICS JOURNAL, 2011 Oct
Keywords: Chernobyl, environmental radioactivity, environmental assessment, environmental, monitoring.
Abstract: This article describes results of the radiation environmental monitoring performed in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (ChEZ) during the period following the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. This article presents a brief overview of five comprehensive reports generated under Contract No. DE-AC09-96SR18500 (Washington Savannah River Company LLC, Subcontract No. AC55559N, SOW No. ON8778) and summarizes characteristics of the ChEZ and its post-accident status and the history of development of the radiation monitoring research in the ChEZ is described. This article addresses characteristics of the radiation monitoring in the ChEZ, its major goals and objectives, and changes of these goals and objectives in the course of time, depending on the tasks associated with the phase of mitigation of the ChNPP accident consequences. The results of the radiation monitoring in the ChEZ during the last 25 years are also provided.
URL: http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?query_id=2&page=0&osti_id=1024197
