Ecogenetic monitoring of ionizing radiation for radon-hazardous territories

Abstract

This work is devoted to studying the alpha activity distribution of natural radionuclides in boarding schools located near zones of tectonic faults. There are many tectonic faults in the Almaty and this is the basis for referring the southern capital of Kazakhstan to the radon-hazardous territories. As a result of radiometric measurements a 2D-topology of the alpha-radiation flux density distribution from the distance to the tectonic fault was found. Based on the measurements results the coefficient of radon concentration from the distance to the tectonic rupture was found. Using the obtained pattern, it is possible to plot the dependence of volumetric alpha activity for other schools, if their distances from the tectonic fault are known. In addition, interest in biomedical and ecogenetic effects of radon and its decay products has grown considerably in the last few years. These effects have been investigated in biotests on Drosophila’s two systems. It was found that alpha-particles, with the help of which the situation in radon-hazardous territories was simulated, possess mutagenic influence manifested mainly in formation of morphoses or deformities.

Genetic monitoring tools for radon pollution research

“…A one mm thick nutrient medium was poured onto the bottom of glass cuvettes prepared according to the standard method [6]. Up to 50 Drosophila larvae of the first and second stages of development were placed in each cell.…”

“…Comparison of the results in the experiment and control were performed by the Chisquare method with the amendment of Yates [6].…”