Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study

• Title: Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study

Author: Nijnik, Maria / Oskam, Arie / Nijnik, Anatoliy

Reference: International Journal of Forestry Research, 2012, p.1-12, Jan 2012

doi: 10.1155/2012/295414                                          

Keywords:

Abstract: This paper presents an economic analysis of the planting of trees on marginal lands in Ukraine for timber production, erosion prevention, and climate mitigation. A methodology combining econometric analysis, simulation modelling, and linear programming to analyse the costs and benefits of such afforestation has been adopted. The research reveals that, at discount rates lower than 2%, establishment of new forests is economically justified in the majority of forestry zones.

URL: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/2012/295414/

Remediation of ecosystems damaged by environmental contamination: Applications of ecological engineering and ecosystem restoration in Central and Eastern Europe

• Title: Remediation of ecosystems damaged by environmental contamination: Applications of ecological engineering and ecosystem restoration in Central and Eastern Europe

Author: Mitsch, W.J / Mander, Ü

Reference: Ecological Engineering, 8 (4), p.247-254, Aug 1997

doi: 10.1016/S0925-8574(97)00021-9                                           

Keywords: Ecosystem restoration; Ecology workshop; Chernobyl; Acidification; Forest decline; Central and Eastern Europe; Riparian buffer strips; Ecological engineering

Abstract: To investigate the applicability of ecological engineering to pollution problems prevalent in present-day Central and Eastern Europe, a SCOPE-UNEP sponsored workshop was held in Estonia in November 1995. The workshop was undertaken specifically to obtain information from and to train planners, managers and scientists in the region. These `countries in transition’ face, in many respects, unique environmental problems as a result of their recent domination by a centralized planning government system.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857497000219

Estimation of marine source-term following Fukushima Dai-ichi accident

• Title: Estimation of marine source-term following Fukushima Dai-ichi accident

Author: Bailly du Bois, P. / Laguionie, P. / Boust, D. / Korsakissok, I. / Didier, D. / Fiévet, B.

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 114, p.2-9, Dec 2012

doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.11.015                                           

Keywords: Fukushima; Source-term; ¹³⁷Cs; ¹³⁴Cs; ¹³¹I; Environmental half time

Abstract: ► Fukushima Dai-ichi accident is the most important artificial radioactive release flux into the sea. ► Quantities of ¹³⁷Cs in seawater are deduced from individual measurements. ► Local concentrations in seawater diminish regularly by a factor of two in seven days. ► Total amount of direct releases of ¹³⁷Cs estimated is 27 PBq (12 PBq–41 PBq). ► Time-evolution of release fluxes is drawn.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X1100289X

Sedimentation and remobilization of radiocesium in the coastal area of Ibaraki, 70 km south of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

• Title: Sedimentation and remobilization of radiocesium in the coastal area of Ibaraki, 70 km south of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

Author: Otosaka, Shigeyoshi / Kobayashi, Takuya

Reference: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Nov 2012

doi: 10.1007/s10661-012-2956-7                                           

Keywords: Radiocesium, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, Seabed sediment, Coastal area, Redistribution

Abstract: Sedimentation and remobilization processes of radiocesium were investigated from time-series observations at nine stations in the coastal area of Ibaraki, 70–110 km south of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (1FNPP). Sediment samples were collected four times between June 2011 and January 2012, and concentrations of radiocesium as well as sediment properties such as grain size and elemental compositions were analyzed. Cumulative inventory of ¹³⁷Cs in sediment (0–10 cm) ranged between 4 × 10³ and 3 × 10⁴ Bq/m² as of January 2012.

URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10661-012-2956-7

An invitation to contribute to a strategic research agenda in radioecology

• Title: An invitation to contribute to a strategic research agenda in radioecology

  Author: Hinton, T.G. / Garnier-Laplace, J. / Vandenhove, H. / Dowdall, M. / Adam-Guillermin, C. / Alonzo, F. / Barnett, C. / (…) / Vives i Batlle, J.

  Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 115, p.73-82, Jan 2013

  doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.07.011                                           

  Keywords: Radioecology; Research; Agenda; Vision; STAR; ALLIANCE

  Abstract: ► The document is a draft Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for radioecology. ► It is a vision of what can be achieved in the future by international collaboration. ► The SRA identifies 3 scientific challenges and 15 associated research lines. ► Critique for improving the SRA is welcomed at www.star-radioecology.org.

  URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X12001920

Sunlight-Exposed Biofilm Microbial Communities Are Naturally Resistant to Chernobyl Ionizing-Radiation Levels

• Title: Sunlight-Exposed Biofilm Microbial Communities Are Naturally Resistant to Chernobyl Ionizing-Radiation Levels

Author: Ragon, Marie / Restoux, Gwendal / Moreira, David / Møller, Anders Pape / López-García, Purificación Reference: PLoS ONE, 6 (7), Jul 2011 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021764                                            Keywords: Abstract: The Chernobyl accident represents a long-term experiment on the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation at the ecosystem level. Though studies of these effects on plants and animals are abundant, the study of how Chernobyl radiation levels affect prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities is practically non-existent, except for a few reports on human pathogens or soil microorganisms. Environments enduring extreme desiccation and UV radiation, such as sunlight exposed biofilms could in principle select for organisms highly resistant to ionizing radiation as well. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3135598/

Countermeasures used in the Ukraine to produce forage and animal food products with radionuclide levels below intervention limits after the Chernobyl accident

• Title: Countermeasures used in the Ukraine to produce forage and animal food products with radionuclide levels below intervention limits after the Chernobyl accident

Author: Prister, B.S. / Perepelyatnikov, G.P. / Perepelyatnikova, L.V. Reference: Science of The Total Environment, 137 (1-3), p.183-198, Sep 1993 doi: 10.1016/0048-9697(93)90387-L                                           

Keywords: countermeasures; forage; amelioration; fertilizer; Chernobyl accident; sapropeli

Abstract: Radionuclide levels in animal food products are determined by the contamination levels in both pasture vegetation and forage. The wide variety of different countermeasures used in areas of the Ukraine severely affected by the Chernobyl accident, to ensure that animals are provided with forage with sufficiently low contamination levels, are described and evaluated. URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004896979390387L

CONCENTRATIONS AND DOSE RATE ESTIMATES OF 134,137CESIUM AND 90 STRONTIUM IN SMALL MAMMALS AT CHORNOBYL, UKRAINE

• Title: CONCENTRATIONS AND DOSE RATE ESTIMATES OF 134,137CESIUM AND 90 STRONTIUM IN SMALL MAMMALS AT CHORNOBYL, UKRAINE

Author: [RONALD K. C HESSER, DERRICK W. SUGG…KEVIN HOLLOMAN, and ROBERT J. BAKER]

Reference: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 305–312, 2000

doi:                                            

Keywords: Chernobyl Dose Cesium Strontium

Abstract:

URL:http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/personnel/RJBaker/Publications/269-Concentrations%20and%20dose%20estimates-Chesser%20et%20al-2000.pdf

The vertical distribution of the Cs-137 derived from Chernobyl fall-out in the uppermost Sphagnum layer of two peatlands in the southern Alps (Italy)

• Title: The vertical distribution of the Cs-137 derived from Chernobyl fall-out in the uppermost Sphagnum layer of two peatlands in the southern Alps (Italy)

Author: Gerdol, Renato / Degetto, Sandro / Mazzotta, Dionisio / Vecchiati, Giorgio

Reference: Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 75 (1-2), p.93-106, May 1994

doi: 10.1007/BF01100402                                            

Keywords:

Abstract: The patterns of concentration of the Cs-137 derived from the Chernobyl accident were analysed in a series of vertical profiles ofSphagnum collected at two peatlands in the southern Alps. The peak concentrations of the Chernobyl radiocesium were found in segments ofSphagnum located at different distances from the growing apex, probably corresponding to the plant tissues produced in the 1986 vegetation season.

URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01100402

Chernobyl derived activity in sheep: Variation within a single flock and with time

• Title: Chernobyl derived activity in sheep: Variation within a single flock and with time

Author: Walters, B.

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 7 (2), p.99-106, Jan 1988

doi: 10.1016/0265-931X(88)90001-X                                            

Keywords:

Abstract: The continuous monitoring of the caesium contents of sheep grazing a high fell in Cumbria, UK, is described. The technique of in-vivo monitoring, using portable NaI crystal detectors, is shown to be robust and capable of producing accurate quantitative data. Results are presented from the monitoring of 100 sheep at fortnightly intervals over a period of 13 weeks. The peak average activity (1300 Bq kg⁻¹) was reached five weeks after introduction of the sheep to grazing land with up to 2000 Bq kg⁻¹ in herbage.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0265931X8890001X