Measurement of the whole-body 137Cs in residents around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Abstract

To understand the current situation of internal radiation exposure in the population around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP), we examined the 137Cs body burden in six residents of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia in 2002 and 2004 using the whole-body counter (WBC) at Nagasaki University (Japan). The data were compared with those of our previous study performed in 1993-1994 using the same method. In 2002 and 2004, peaks of 137Cs were detected in two residents from Gomel, which was heavily contaminated by the CNPP accident, one from Minsk (Belarus) and one from Kiev (Ukraine), but another resident from Minsk showed no 137Cs peaks. The results of the present study suggests that residents around the CNPP are still exposed to chronic 137Cs internal irradiation, probably due to the daily consumption of contaminated domestic foods, but the risk of any disease by the irradiation is quite low. Long-term follow-up of WBC around the CNPP is useful and may contribute to radiation safety regulation together with a reduction of unnecessary radiophobia for the residents.

Effects of long-term low-level radiation exposure after the Chernobyl catastrophe on immunoglobulins in children residing in contaminated areas: prospective and cross-sectional studies

“…To preserve the longitudinal comparisons of the samples, we only used individual whole-body count of 137 Cs for comparison of exposure measures. The body burden of 137 Cs was adjusted for weight (kg) [27]. Because of known variations with season of quantification [28,29], we also took the month of measurement into account.…”

Evaluation of 137CS body burden in inhabitants of Bryansk Oblast, Russian Federation, where a high incidence of thyroid cancer was observed after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

“…We estimated the annual exposure dose, based on the effective dose coefficient 2.5*10 -3 mSv/year per Bq/kg (1) . We also calculated the 50-year exposure doses commitment with the 137 Cs peak, according to the formula (3.821* 137 Cs concentration (Bq)*70/4,000,000/body weight (kg)) developed by Shimasaki and Okumura, based on the physiological half-life of 137 Cs (9) . Data are expressed as median (25 th -75 th percentile) or median (minimum-maximum).…”

Mpact of Emotional Stress on the Immune System Indices Among Residents of Radiation Contaminated Areas

“…Останнім часом досить дискусійним є питання про статус населення, котре проживає на територіях, забруднених радіонуклідами внаслідок аварії на ЧАЕС. З одного боку, основний фактор забруднення цих територій -довгоживучий радіонуклід 137 Cs, період піврозпаду якого -30 років [1,2]. Таким чином, з 1986 р. пройшов час, достатній для істотного зниження радіаційного навантаження на стан здоров'я мешканців IV радіаційної зони -території посиленого радіоекологічного контролю.…”