The post-Chernobyl environmental situation

Title:  The post-Chernobyl environmental situation

Author: Frederick Warner, (Visiting Professor, Biological and Chemical Sciences Department, JTB, University of Essex, Colchester, UK), L.J. Appleby, (Senior Research Officer, Biological and Chemical Sciences Department, JTB, University of Essex, Colchester, UK)

Reference: MCB UP Ltd, 1996

doi:10.1108/09566169610112926 (Permanent URL)

Keywords: Ecology, Environment, Radiation, USSR

Abstract: The most significant sources and environmental pathways of anthropogenic radionuclides have recently been examined by the RADPATH (Biochemical Pathways of Artificial Radionuclides) project, which was initiated under the auspices of the SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment) unit. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, with its associated radionuclide release, has provided an unexpected data source concerning movement of materials within various environmental compartments. Outlines some of the findings of the SCOPE-RADPATH project, a particular focus of which was the Chernobyl accident, with reference to the atmospheric, terrestrial, aquatic and urban environments.

URL:  http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=871185

Aerosol migration near chernobyl: long-term data and modeling

Title: Aerosol migration near chernobyl: long-term data and modeling

Author: Hatano, Y. / Hatano, N. / Amano, H. / Ueno, T. / Sukhoruchkin, A.K. / Kazakov, S.V.

Reference: Atmospheric Environment, 32 (14-15), p.2587-2594, Aug 1998

doi: 10.1016/S1352-2310(97)00511-6

Keywords:Air pollution; Chernobyl; aerosol migration; fractal; resuspension

Abstract: Airborne particles from a polluted area can pose a long-term health hazard to residents nearby. However, the long-term prediction of aerosol migration has never been successful. We show in the present paper that a recently proposed model (Hatano and Hatano, 1997, Atmospheric Environment31, 2297–2303) successfully reproduces data of the aerosol concentration measured near Chernobyl over a decade. The time dependence of the resuspension factor is also reproduced very well. In fitting our theoretical formula to the data, we obtain values of the fitting parameters that provide important information on the emission quantity and removal processes of nuclides from the accident. We show that 2200 days of measurement after the accident should be enough to predict the concentration in the air 10 years later.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231097005116

Determination of 240Pu/239Pu, 241Pu/239Pu and 242Pu/239Pu isotope ratios in environmental reference materials and samples from Chernobyl by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and filament carburization

Title: Determination of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu, ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴²Pu/²³⁹Pu isotope ratios in environmental reference materials and samples from Chernobyl by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and filament carburization

Author: Jakopič, Rožle / Richter, Stephan / Kühn, Heinz / Aregbe, Yetunde

Reference: Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 25 (6), p.815, Jan 2010

doi: 10.1039/b925918j

Keywords:Environmental analysis, Isotope analysis, Quantitative organic analyses, Pu.

Abstract: In various areas such as e.g. nuclear safeguards, environmental monitoring, nuclear forensics, precise, sensitive and accurate plutonium analysis are needed. Plutonium isotope ratios are used as “fingerprints” in revealing different sources of plutonium contamination in the environment. In this study, ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu, ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴²Pu/²³⁹Pu isotope ratios were determined in four different reference materials and samples from Chernobyl using Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) in combination with multiple ion counting (MIC) and filament carburization. After the samples were leached with 8M HNO₃, plutonium was co-precipitated on CaC₂O₄ and separated from interfering radionuclides and matrix elements by anion exchange and extraction chromatography (TEVA Spec).

URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2010/JA/b925918j

Measurement of 129I concentrations in the environment after the Chernobyl reactor accident

Title: Measurement of ¹²⁹I concentrations in the environment after the Chernobyl reactor accident

Author: Paul, M. / Fink), D. / Hollos, G. / Kaufman, A. / Kutschera, W. / Magaritz, M.

Reference: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 29 (1-2), p.341-345, Nov 1987

doi: 10.1016/0168-583X(87)90262-X

Keywords:

Abstract: The Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident which occurred on April 26, 1986 is known to have injected into the atmosphere a pulse of a large number of radionuclides. The activities of several radionuclides present in the subsequent fallout have been measured in different locations throughout Europe by gamma-ray and beta counting. We present here measurements of concentrations of the long-lived radionuclide ¹²⁹I () in environmental samples collected in Israel and Europe following the nuclear reactor accident. The measurements were performed by accelerator mass spectrometry, using the 14UD Rehovot Pelletron Accelerator.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0168583X8790262X

A one-dimensional dispersion model for radionuclides in the marine environment applied to the chernobyl fallout over the Northern Baltic Sea

Title: A one-dimensional dispersion model for radionuclides in the marine environment applied to the chernobyl fallout over the Northern Baltic Sea

Author: Ribbe, J. / Müller-Navarra, S.H. / Nies, H.

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 14 (1), p.55-72, Jan 1991

doi: 10.1016/0265-931X(91)90015-8

Keywords:

Abstract: The Baltic Sea was the marine ecosystem most affected by Chernobyl fallout. The occurrence of ‘hot spots’ at the water surface was characteristic of the contamination. A one-dimensional vertical dispersion model has been used to explain the distribution of the radionuclides, cesium-137 and cesium-134, in the water column of the central Bothnian Sea for the first six months after the contamination event. In addition to physical dispersion processes, specific chemical characteristics of the radionuclides were taken into account. The simulation shows that, in the six-month period, 5% of the cesium-137 and cesium-134 was trapped in the sediment, while 50% of the plutonium-239/240 activity was deposited. The activity concentration of plutonium in the water column was, however, close to the limit of detection.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0265931X91900158

The ecological consequences of the radioactive contamination of the natural environment in the region of the chernobyl atomic power station accident

Title: The ecological consequences of the radioactive contamination of the natural environment in the region of the chernobyl atomic power station accident

Author: Sokolovskii, V. G. / Sokolov, V. E. / Vetrov, V. A. / Dibobes, I. K. / Trusov, A. G. / Ryabov, I. N. / (…) / Borzilov, V. A.

Reference: Soviet Atomic Energy, 64 (1), p.33-47, Jan 1988

doi: 10.1007/BF01124005

Keywords:

URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01124005

Long-term investigations of post-Chernobyl radiocaesium in fallout and air in North Croatia

Title: Long-term investigations of post-Chernobyl radiocaesium in fallout and air in North Croatia

Author: Franić, Zdenko / Sega, Kresimir / Petrinec, Branko / Marović, Gordana

Reference: Environmental monitoring and assessment, 148 (1-4), p.315-323, Jan 2009

doi: 10.1007/s10661-008-0162-4

Keywords:

Abstract: The long-term behaviour of (137)Cs activity concentrations in air and fallout has been studied in the city of Zagreb for the post-Chernobyl period (1986-2006) as a part of an extended monitoring program of radioactive contamination of human environment in Croatia. Annual mean (137)Cs activity concentrations in air and annual total deposition fluxes (wet plus dry) decreased from 2.8 x 10(-4) Bq m(-3) in September 1986 to 3.0 x 10(-6) Bq m(-3) in last quarter of 2006 and from 6,410 Bq m(-2) year(-1) in 1986 to 2 Bq m(-2) year(-1) in 2006 respectively. By fitting the measured (137)Cs activity concentrations to the theoretical curve the ecological half-lives of (137)Cs in air and fallout were estimated with respective values of 0.46 and 0.54 years for immediate post-Chernobyl period, increasing to 5.52 and 3.97 years afterwards.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18278563?dopt=Abstract

Genome hypermethylation in Pinus silvestris of Chernobyl—a mechanism for radiation adaptation?

Title: Genome hypermethylation in Pinus silvestris of Chernobyl—a mechanism for radiation adaptation?

Author: Kovalchuk, Olga / Burke, Paula / Arkhipov, Andrey / Kuchma, Nikolaj / James, S.Jill / Kovalchuk, Igor / Pogribny, Igor

Reference: Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 529 (1-2), p.13-20, Aug 2003

doi: 10.1016/S0027-5107(03)00103-9

Keywords:Chernobyl; Radiation; Pine; Stress response; Global genome methylation

Abstract: Adaptation is a complex process by which populations of organisms respond to long-term environmental stresses by permanent genetic change. Here we present data from the natural “open-field” radiation adaptation experiment after the Chernobyl accident and provide the first evidence of the involvement of epigenetic changes in adaptation of a eukaryote-Scots pine (Pinus silvestris), to chronic radiation exposure.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0027510703001039

131I and137Cs in the environment following the chernobyl reactor accident

Title: ¹³¹I and¹³⁷Cs in the environment following the chernobyl reactor accident

Author: Gavrilas, M.

Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Articles, 123 (1), p.39-60, Jul 1988

doi: 10.1007/BF02036381

Keywords:

Abstract: The measured¹³¹I and¹³⁷Cs radioactivity in air, on the ground, and in milk at different places throughout the world were compared. It was found that the measured radioactivity can be explained assuming that the radioactive material released during the Chernobyl accident was transported primarily in two segments. The first part was transported at low altitudes, contaminated areas around Chernobyl and extended up to 2000–3000 km. The second part was injected into the troposphere. The radionuclides carried at high altitudes by the west-to-east winds traveled over continental Asia, Japan, Pacific Ocean, and North America. The time integrated radioactivity concentrations in nearground air particulates, the integral ground deposition densities and milk concentrations can be described by an exponential decrease as a function of the distance from Chernobyl. The intercept (values near the damaged reactor) and the slopes (describing dispersion conditions) were calculated. The deposition velocities for¹³¹I and¹³⁷Cs transported with the two altitude air masses are given.

URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02036381

Beresford et al. Chernobyl case study part 2 RP 40, A case study in the Chernobyl zone – part 2: predicting radiation induced effects in biota.

Title: Beresford et al. Chernobyl case study part 2 RP 40, A case study in the Chernobyl zone – part 2: predicting radiation induced effects in biota.

Author: Beresford, N.A., Wright, S.M., Barnett, C.L., Hingston, J.L., Vives I Batlle, J., Copplestone, D., Kryshev, I.I., Sazykina, T.G., Prohl, G., Arkhipov, A., Howard B.J.

Reference: Radioprotection, Suppl. 1, 40, S299-S305, 2005

Keywords:

Abstract: In this paper we use the FASSET framework to estimate absorbed dose rates for biota within the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The estimated doses are compared to observed biological effects within the Chernobyl exclusion zone and effects expected from summaries of existing knowledge and the extent of contamination. Although paucity of observations under conditions of chronic irradiation makes direct comparison difficult, the biological effects observed in the Chernobyl exclusion zone over the period considered here (1988-2003) are broadly in agreement with those which may have been expected.

URL: http://www.radioprotection.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8806519