Title: Processes, dynamics and modelling of radiocaesium cycling in a chronosequence of Chernobyl-contaminated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations
Author: François Goor, Yves Thiry
Reference: Science of The Total Environment, Volume 325, Issues 1–3, 5 June 2004, Pages 163-180
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.10.037
Keywords: Forest biological cycling; Annual fluxes; Chronosequence; Chernobyl consequences; Wood contamination; Modelling of radiocaesium transfer
Abstract: In a large forested area affected by the Chernobyl radioactive fallout, especially in CIS, the lasting recycling of radiocaesium (137Cs) by the trees is a source of long-term contamination of woody products. The quantitative description of the 137Cs dynamics in contaminated forest is a prerequisite to predictive modelling and further management of such territories. Three even-aged mono-specific Scots pine stands (17, 37 and 57 years old) were selected in a contaminated woodland in southeastern Belarus to constitute an adequate chronosequence. We determined the potassium and radiocaesium annual fluxes involved in the biological cycling in each stand using a well-documented calculation methodology. Qualitatively, 137Cs was shown to be rapidly recycled in trees through the same pathways as K and to redistribute similarly between the tree components. Compared to K, a higher fraction of 137Cs, corresponding to about the half of the annual uptake, is immobilised in perennial organs. With tree development, trunk wood and bark become prevailing sinks for 137Cs since they represent an increasing pool of biomass. In the pine chronosequence, the current root absorption, respectively, mobilizes 0.53, 0.32 and 0.31% year−1 of the total 137Cs pool in soil. Variations in the 137Cs uptake do not reflect differences in the 137Cs balance between stands. In the two older stands, 51 and 71% of the current tree contamination are related to earlier accumulation subsequent to the initial fallout interception and recycling. The soil is the dominant source of long-term tree contamination. A simple modelling based on the measured 137Cs fluxes indicates that, for young stands, radioactive decay-corrected contamination would stabilize after reaching a maximum of 25 years after the 137Cs deposition. Stemwood presents a maximum of 15 years after the deposition and decrease afterwards mainly through radioactive decay. In the older stands, the decontamination is constant without local maximum of 137Cs level in the wood. The 137Cs contamination of tree components is the result of different influential processes like root uptake, internal translocation and immobilisation. For more accurate predictions, the calibration of existing models would be benefited by comparing with the 137Cs annual fluxes instead of the simple transfer factor coefficients. In the perspective of other applications, there is a need of such data for other radionuclides as well as for heavy metals.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969703006454
Title: The atmospheric long range transport model LORAN and its application to Chernobyl release
Author: S. Galmarini, G. Graziani, C. Tassone
Reference: Environmental Software, Volume 7, Issue 3, 1992, Pages 143-154
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0266-9838(92)90011-R
Keywords: Long range transport; Chernobyl; atmospheric release
Abstract: The computer model LORAN (LOng Range Atmospheric advection of Nuclides) wich includes a recently developed description of the mixing layer growth is described. The model is assessed against measurements of radioactivity in air and soil after the Chernobyl accident. The ATMES data set, together with recently acquired measurements in Italy (Cs-137 air concentration), Russia, Rumania and Norway (cumumulative deposition of Cs-137) are used for the actual field measurements, when the analysed windfields from circulation models are used. This gives an indication of the representativeness of measurements considered in the comparison.
URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/026698389290011R
Author: Mel’chenko A.I., Zhivchikov V.G., Mel’chenko E.A.
Reference: Gazette “ТРУДЫ КУБАНСКОГО ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО АГРАРНОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА“ (Proceedings of Kuban State Agrarian University), 2011
ISSN: 1999-1703
DOI: 504.53.062.4
Keywords: 134cs, 238u, accumulation, agricultural products
Abstract: Article on detailed experiments, as well as its prevention, on accumulation of radionuclides 134cs and 238u in bracts and cabbages.
URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=17050712
Author: Goryachev I. V., Gnedenko V. G., Kuznetsov V. D.
Reference: Gazette “АЛЬТЕРНАТИВНАЯ ЭНЕРГЕТИКА И ЭКОЛОГИЯ“ (alternative energetics and ecology) , 2006
ISSN: 1608-8298
Keywords: remediation, decontamination, Kurcharov Institute
Abstract: A short article on remediation of radioactive waste. The author Goryachev and Gnedenko are members of the Kurcharov Institute, Russia’s leading research centre of nuclear energy. In the Soviet regime the institute was a centre for developing nuclear weapons. Most soviet nuclear reactors were built under the surveillance of the institute.
URL: http://isjaee.hydrogen.ru/pdf/5_2006gnedenko_rus.pdf (full article available)
Author: Andreev B.M., Aref’ev D.G., Baranov V.Yu., Bednyakov V.A., Voinova S.E., Kodina G.E., Lisitsa V.S., Kozlova E.I., Kukulin V.I., Orekhov V.T., Nagaev I.Yu., Pesnya A.V., etc
Reference: Monograph publisher: “Физико-математическая литература” (physic-mathematic literature), Moscow, 2005
ISBN: 978-5-9221-05224
Keywords: isotope
Abstract: This is a book concentrating on research of isotope. Contains dissertations from leading professionals to postgraduate students.
URL: http://mirknig.com/knigi/estesstv_nauki/1181546168-izotopy-svoystva-poluchenie-primenenie.html
Author: Andreev B.M., Aref’ev D.G., Baranov V.Yu., Bednyakov V.A., Voinova S.E., Kodina G.E., Lisitsa V.S., Kozlova E.I., Kukulin V.I., Orekhov V.T., Nagaev I.Yu., Pesnya A.V., etc
Reference: Monograph publisher: “Физико-математическая литература” (physic-mathematic literature), Moscow, 2005
ISBN: 978-5-9221-05231
Keywords: isotope
Abstract: This is a book concentrating on research of isotope. Contains articles and dissertations from leading professionals to postgraduate students.
URL: http://mirknig.com/knigi/estesstv_nauki/1181546168-izotopy-svoystva-poluchenie-primenenie.html
Author: Petrova T.B., Vlasov V.K., Miklyaev P.S.
Reference: Gazette “АНРИ “, 2009
ISSN: 2075-1338
Keywords: introduction of manifold literature, environment, contamination
Abstract: There have been a great amount and range of literature published about “Chernobyl”, from scientific ones to fiction. In this journal we should like to present the manifold of the literature. Nonetheless, we pay special attention to literarute concerning contamination of environment by radionuclides, such as migration of radionuclides, ecologic consequences of the accident etc.
URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=12873335
Author: Petrova T.B., Vlasov V.K., Miklyaev P.S.
Reference: Gazette “АНРИ “, 2009
ISSN: 2075-1338
Keywords: introduction of manifold literature, environment, contamination
Abstract: There have been a great amount and range of literature published about “Chernobyl”, from scientific ones to fiction. In this journal we should like to present the manifold of the literature. Nonetheless, we pay special attention to literarute concerning contamination of environment by radionuclides, such as migration of radionuclides, ecologic consequences of the accident etc.
URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=12512487
Author: Vikt. L. Barsukov, M. V. Borisov
Reference: Gazette “ ГЕОХИМИЯ “ (geochemistry), 2005
ISSN: 0016-7525
Keywords: natural waters, transuranic elements
Abstract: Dissolution of solid phases of polyvalent Am, Np, and Pu in various natural waters was studied with the aid of computer thermodynamic models. The solubility of each particular phase of the transuranic elements (TUE) varies by many orders of magnitude depending on the type of water. The speciation of dissolved TUE in waters of different types is very distinctive. Free Am3+, , Pu3+, or ions dominate in some waters, whereas in other cases, the most abundant species may be hydroxo complexes, AmOH2+, , , NpO2OH0, PuOH2+, and , or carbonate, sulfate, and chloride complex ions of polyvalent TUE. Both waters and TUE phases are significantly changed during equilibration. Shifts in the pH and Eh values of water in contact with TUE phases promote partial precipitation of major components and thus change the salt composition of water. In turn, many solid TUE phases are unstable in contact with water. All Np phases are usually replaced in the models by the least soluble phase, NpO2(c), while all Pu phases are replaced by the dioxide PuO2(c). Various Am phases at the contact with various types of water are also largely transformed into a single phase: AmO2(c), Am(OH)3(c), Am carbonate, or Am hydroxycarbonate. The solubility and speciation of TUE in water reacting with the sum of Am, Np, Pu, and U solid phases are different compared with the interaction of the same water with each particular TUE. The results of our modeling can be used to elucidate the migration ability of TUE in natural waters, including the possible formation of colloidal TUE phases, and to estimate the effects of external factors, e.g., variations in R/W (integral ratio of the reacted masses of solid phase, R, and water, W) and local shifts in pH and Eh.
URL: http://www.maikonline.com/maik/showArticle.dopii=S0016702905120049&leftmenu=no
Author: Geras’kin S. A., Fesenko S. V., Alexakhin R. M.
Reference: ScienceDirect, 2008
ISSN:
DOI: 574.415:539.1.04:[614.876:631.03958]
Keywords: soil, contamination, plants, animals, dose-effect relationship
Abstract: The area affected by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident in 1986 has become a unique test site where long-term ecological and biological consequences of a drastic change in a range of environmental factors as well as trends and intensity of selection are studied in natural settings. The consequences of the Chernobyl accident for biota varied from an enhanced rate of mutagenesis to damage at the ecosystem level. The review comprehensively brings together key data of the long-term studies of biological effects in plants and animals inhabiting over 20 years the Chernobyl NPP zone. The severity of radiation effects was strongly dependent on the dose received in the early period after the accident. The most exposed phytocenoses and soil animals’ communities exhibited dose dependent alterations in the species composition and reduction in biological diversity. On the other hand, no decrease in numbers or taxonomic diversity of small mammals even in the most radioactive habitat was shown. In a majority of the studies, in both plant and animal populations from the Chernobyl zone, in the first years after the accident high increases in mutation rates were documented. In most cases the dose–effect relationships were nonlinear and the mutation rates per unit dose were higher at low doses and dose rates. In subsequent years a decline in the radiation background rate occurred faster than reduction in the mutation rate. Plant and animal populations have shown signs of adaptation to chronic exposure. In adaptation to the enhanced level of exposure an essential role of epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression regulation was shown. Based on the Chernobyl NPP accident studies, in the present review attempts were made to assess minimum doses at which ecological and biological effects were observed.
URL: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3bio/bio464/lectures/lectures_assets/ChernobylEffectsonNonhumans.pdf (full dissertation in English available online)
