Pollution dynamics of 137CS in Kozhanovskoe Lake in post-Chernobyl period

Title: Pollution dynamics of 137CS in Kozhanovskoe Lake in post-Chernobyl period

Author: Vakulovsky S.M., Kolesnikova L.V., Tertyshnik E.G., Uvarov A.D.

Reference: Gazette “РАДИАЦИОННАЯ БИОЛОГИЯ. РАДИОЭКОЛОГИЯ “ (Radiation Biology, Radioecology), 2009

ISSN: 0869-8031

DOI: 10.1134/S0869803109020106

Keywords: lake, 137cs, contamination

Abstract: In the article dynamics of radio-contamination, after the Chernoby accident, of the low-flow Kozhanovkoe Lake, in Bryanskaya district, is obseved. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of 137Cs contamination Kozhanovskoe Lake in the post-Chernobyl period, the semi-empirical evaluation of the current contamination of the water body well coincides with the experimental ones. Obtains evaluation of integrated reserves of 137Cs in the main components of the lake: the water, sediment and aquatic vegetation in the period 2005-2007.

URL: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=11919683

Genetic consequences of irradiation in scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. population

Title:  Genetic consequences of irradiation in scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. population

Author: Oficerov M.V., Igonina E.V.

Reference: Genetics, (Russian: “ГЕНЕТИКА”) 2009 Feb; 45(2):209-14.

ISSN: 1022-7954

DOI: 10.1134/S1022795409020082

Keywords: Scots pine, contamination, genetics

Abstract: The genetic consequences of irradiation were studied in a Scots pine population from a region contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl meltdown. Mutations of isozyme loci were not detected in seeds collected from trees of the first post-meltdown generation in 2004. The frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations in the root meristem of seedlings grown from the seeds did not differ from the control level. A deviation from the expected ratio 1:1 was observed for some isozyme alleles in endosperms of seeds obtained from heterozygous trees.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19334615

Territory contamination with the radionuclides representing the fuel component of Chernobyl fallout

Title: Territory contamination with the radionuclides representing the fuel component of Chernobyl fallout

Author: V.A Kashparov, S.M Lundin, S.I Zvarych, V.I Yoshchenko, S.E Levchuk, Y.V Khomutinin, I.M Maloshtan, V.P Protsak

Reference: Science of The Total Environment, Volume 317, Issues 1–3, 30 December 2003, Pages 105-119

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(03)00336-X

Keywords: Chernobyl accident; Terrestrial density of contamination; Plutonium; Radioactive fallout; Fuel particles

Abstract: The data obtained through a series of experiments were used to specify the correlation of activities of the fuel component radionuclides of Chernobyl fallout and to create the maps of the 30-km Chernobyl zone terrestrial density of contamination with ¹⁵⁴Eu, ²³⁸Pu, ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am (on 01.01.2000). In the year 2000, total inventories of the fuel component radionuclides in the upper 30-cm soil layer of the 30-km Chernobyl zone in Ukraine (outside the ChNPP industrial site, excluding the activity located in the radioactive waste storages and in the cooling pond) were estimated as: ⁹⁰Sr—7.7×10¹⁴ Bq; ¹³⁷Cs—2.8×10¹⁵ Bq; ¹⁵⁴Eu—1.4×10¹³ Bq; ²³⁸Pu—7.2×10¹² Bq; ^239+240Pu—1.5×10¹³ Bq; ²⁴¹Am—1.8×10¹³ Bq. These values correspond to 0.4–0.5% of their amounts in the ChNPP unit 4 at the moment of the accident. The current estimate is 3 times lower than the previous widely-cited estimates. Inventories of the fuel component radionuclides were also estimated in other objects within the 30-km zone and outside it. This allowed more accurate data to be obtained on the magnitude of a relative release of radionuclides in the fuel particles (FP) matrix during the Chernobyl accident outside the ChNPP industrial site. It amounts to 1.5±0.5% of these radionuclides in the reactor, which is 2 times lower than the previous estimates. Two-thirds of the radionuclides release in the FP was deposited on the territory of Ukraine.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896970300336X

Transfer of radiocaesium in sensitive agricultural environments after the Chernobyl fallout in Sweden. II. Marginal and seminatural areas in the county of Jämtland

Title: Transfer of radiocaesium in sensitive agricultural environments after the Chernobyl fallout in Sweden. II. Marginal and seminatural areas in the county of Jämtland
Author: Klas Rosén
Reference: Science of The Total Environment, Volume 182, Issues 1–3, 5 April 1996, Pages 135-145

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(95)05059-0

Keywords: Radiocaesium; Grass; Fallout; Chernobyl; Contamination

Abstract: In 1986, two Chernobyl-affected areas in the county of Jämtland, a mountain area and a river valley area, were investigated as to radiocaesium behaviour and transfer to grass. The soil surface layer (0–10 cm) in 1986 and 1989 and grass samples in 1986–1994 were analysed on 9 temporary grassland sites and 8 permanent pasture sites, described individually. The aim of this investigation was to study the sensitivity of different soil types and the influence of normal farming practices, ploughing and K-fertilization on the caesium transfer, in short- and long-term perspectives after the Chernobyl fallout. As expected, the transfer of ¹³⁷Cs to grass was usually higher on permanent pasture than on temporary grassland. For both types of grassland, however, there was a considerable but different change of transfer with years. The transfer to grass in the year of the fallout, 1986, depended to a large extent on the thickness and interception capacity of the grass sward. In the following years, it also depended on the caesium-fixing capacity to clay minerals, on K-fertilization and the reverse process of K removal by plant uptake. Ploughing down the contaminated surface layer and the mixing of caesium with mineral soil were effective in reducing the transfer. During the period 1986–1994, the transfer was reduced considerably, showing a range of (0.1–177.3 m²/kg d.w.) × 10⁻³. The calculated annual reduction halftime, T_ar, increased with years after fallout. It is clearly shown that both countermeasures, ploughing and K-fertilization, are of potential value to decrease grass contamination. Where both measures were employed a reduction in the range of 78%–95% was recorded in the year after ploughing.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0048969795050590

Remediation strategies for rural territories contaminated by the Chernobyl accident

Title: Remediation strategies for rural territories contaminated by the Chernobyl accident

Author: P. Jacob, S. Fesenko, S.K. Firsakova, I.A. Likhtarev, C. Schotola, R.M. Alexakhin, Y.M. Zhuchenko, L. Kovgan, N.I. Sanzharova, V. Ageyets

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 56, Issues 1–2, 2001, Pages 51-76

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(01)00047-9

Keywords: Chernobyl accident;¹³⁷Cs; Remediation; Contamination; Dose

Abstract: The objective of the present paper is to derive remediation strategies for rural settlements contaminated by the Chernobyl accident in which annual doses to a critical group still exceed 1 mSv. Extensive radioecological data have been collected for 70 contaminated settlements. A dose model based on these data resulted in estimates that are on average close to and a bit less than the official dose estimates (‘catalogue doses’) published by the responsible Ministries of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. For eight remedial actions that can be applied on a large scale, effectiveness and costs have been assessed in light of their dependence on soil type, contamination level and on the degree of previous application of remedial actions. Remediation strategies were derived for each of the 70 settlements by choosing remedial actions with lowest costs per averted dose and with highest degree of acceptability among the farmers and local authorities until annual doses are assessed to fall below 1 mSv. The results were generalised to 11 contamination/internal-dose categories. The total numbers of rural inhabitants and privately owned cows in the three countries distributed over the categories were determined and predicted until the year 2015. Based on these data, costs and averted doses were derived for the whole affected population. The main results are (i) about 2000 Sv can be averted at relatively low costs, (ii) the emphasis on reducing external exposures should be increased, (iii) radical improvement of hay-land and meadows and application of Prussian blue to cows should be performed on a large scale if annual doses of 1 mSv are an aim to be achieved, (iv) additional remedial actions of importance are fertilising of potato fields, distribution of food monitors and restriction of mushroom consumption, and (v) for inhabitants of some settlements (in total about 8600) annual doses cannot be reduced below 1 mSv by the remedial actions considered.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X01000479

Resolving Chernobyl vs. global fallout contributions in soils from Poland using Plutonium atom ratios measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Keywords: Chernobyl; Contamination; Plutonium; Poland; Soils; Isotopic ratios; Inductively coupled plasma, mass spectrometry

Abstract: Plutonium in Polish forest soils and the Bór za Lasem peat bog is resolved between Chernobyl and global fallout contributions via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric measurements of ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios in previously prepared NdF₃ α spectrometric sources. Compared to global fallout, Chernobyl Pu exhibits higher abundances of ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴¹Pu. The ratios ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu co-vary and range from 0.186 to 0.348 and 0.0029 to 0.0412, respectively, in forest soils (²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu=0.2407×[²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu]−0.0413; r²=0.9924). Two-component mixing models are developed to ap portion ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Pu activities; various estimates of the percentage of Chernobyl-derived ^239+240Pu activity in forest soils range from <10% to >90% for the sample set. The ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu–²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratio mixing line extrapolates to estimate ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu and the ²⁴¹Pu/^239+240Pu activity ratio for the Chernobyl source term (0.123±0.007; 83±5; 1 May 1986). Sample ²⁴¹Pu activities, calculated using existing alpha spectrometric ^239+240Pu activities, and the ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios, agree relatively well with previous liquid scintillation spectrometry measurements. Chernobyl Pu is most evident in locations from northeastern Poland. The ²⁴¹Pu activities and/or the ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios are more sensitive than ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu or ²³⁸Pu/^239+240Pu activity ratios at detecting small Chernobyl ^239+240Pu inputs, found in southern Poland. The mass spectrometric data show that the ²⁴¹Pu activity is 40–62% Chernobyl-derived in southern Poland, and 58–96% Chernobyl in northeastern Poland. The Bór za Lasem peat bog (49.42° N, 19.75° E), located in the Orawsko-Nowotarska valley of southern Poland, consists of global fallout Pu.

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265931X03002522

Current development of the human and environmental contamination in the Bryansk-Gomel Spot after the Chernobyl accident.

Title: Current development of the human and environmental contamination in the Bryansk-Gomel Spot after the Chernobyl accident.

Author: Hille, R / Hill, P / Heinemann, K / Ramzaev, V / Barkovski, A / Konoplia, V / Neth, R

Reference: Radiation and environmental biophysics, 39 (2), p.99-109, Jun 2000

Keywords: contamination, Bryansk-Gomel, soil, food

Abstract: Up to 1991, it was assumed that after the Chernobyl accident in 1986 the time development of radioactive contamination with regard to environment, foodstuff, and man would decrease due to migration processes in the soil, radioactive decay, and protective measures. This assumption was confirmed by all measurements in the first few years after the accident. Since 1991, however, a change in this development has been observed, as many measurements show stagnation or in some cases even an increase of foodstuff and human contamination. If normalised to an average local ground contamination, only a few groups of foodstuffs (e.g., potatoes) show a slight decrease in radioactivity. In this paper, the time development of radioactive contamination in the Bryansk-Gomel Spot on the basis of measurements since 1991 is presented. The consequences for long-term dose assessment are discussed.

URL: http://link.springer.com/journal/411

Effects of non-human species irradiation after the Chernobyl NPP accident

Title: Effects of non-human species irradiation after the Chernobyl NPP accident

Author: Geras’kin, S.A. / Fesenko, S.V. / Alexakhin, R.M.

Reference: Environment International, 34 (6), p.880-897, Aug 2008

doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2007.12.012

Keywords: Chernobyl NPP accident; Radioactive contamination; Doses; Ecological and biological effects

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.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412007002474

ACCUMULATION OF RADIOCESIUM BY MUSHROOMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND IMAGE GALLERY

Title: ACCUMULATION OF RADIOCESIUM BY MUSHROOMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND IMAGE GALLERY

Author: Duff, M / Mary Ramsey, M

Reference: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2006 Nov 05

Keywords: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CONTAMINATION; IMAGES; MUSHROOMS; SAMPLING; SOURCE TERMS; CESIUM 137; BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION; CESIUM 134

Abstract: During the last 50 years, a large amount of information on radionuclide accumulators or ‘sentinel-type’ organisms in the environment has been published. Much of this work focused on the risks of food-chain transfer of radionuclides to higher organisms such as reindeer and man. However, until the 1980’s and 1990’s, there has been little published data on the radiocesium ({sup 134}Cs and {sup 137}Cs) accumulation by mushrooms. This presentation will consist of a review of the published data for {sup 134,137}Cs accumulation by mushrooms in nature. The review will consider the time of sampling, sample location characteristics, the radiocesium source term and other aspects that promote {sup 134,137}Cs uptake by mushrooms. This review will focus on published data for mushrooms that demonstrate a large propensity for use in the environmental biomonitoring of radiocesium contamination. It will also provide photographs and descriptions of habitats for many of these mushrooms to facilitate their collection for biomonitoring.

URL: http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?query_id=2&page=0&osti_id=895047

Radioactive waste management and environmental contamination issues at the Chernobyl site.

Title: Radioactive waste management and environmental contamination issues at the Chernobyl site.

Author: Napier, B A / Schmieman, E A / Voitsekovitch, O

Reference: Health physics, 93 (5), p.441-451, Nov 2007

doi:　10.1097/01.HP.0000279602.34009.e3

Keywords:　contamination, Radioactive waste management, Chernobyl exclusion zone

Abstract: The destruction of the Unit 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant resulted in the generation of radioactive contamination and radioactive waste at the site and in the surrounding area (referred to as the Exclusion Zone). In the course of remediation activities, large volumes of radioactive waste were generated and placed in temporary near-surface waste storage and disposal facilities. Trench and landfill type facilities were created from 1986-1987 in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone at distances 0.5-15 km from the nuclear power plant site. This large number of facilities was established without proper design documentation, engineered barriers, or hydrogeological investigations and they do not meet contemporary waste-safety requirements. Immediately following the accident, a Shelter was constructed over the destroyed reactor; in addition to uncertainties in stability at the time of its construction, structural elements of the Shelter have degraded as a result of corrosion. The main potential hazard of the Shelter is a possible collapse of its top structures and release of radioactive dust into the environment. A New Safe Confinement (NSC) with a 100 y service life is planned to be built as a cover over the existing Shelter as a longer-term solution. The construction of the NSC will enable the dismantlement of the current Shelter, removal of highly radioactive, fuel-containing materials from Unit 4, and eventual decommissioning of the damaged reactor. More radioactive waste will be generated during NSC construction, possible Shelter dismantling, removal of fuel-containing materials, and decommissioning of Unit 4. The future development of the Exclusion Zone depends on the future strategy for converting Unit 4 into an ecologically safe system, i.e., the development of the NSC, the dismantlement of the current Shelter, removal of fuel-containing material, and eventual decommissioning of the accident site. To date, a broadly accepted strategy for radioactive waste management at the reactor site and in the Exclusion Zone, and especially for high level and long-lived waste, has not been developed.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18049220?dopt=Abstract