The ecological consequences of the radioactive contamination of the natural environment in the region of the chernobyl atomic power station accident

Izraél, Yu. A.; Sokolovskii, V. G.; Sokolov, Volodymyr; Vetrov, V. A.; Dibobes, I.K.; Trusov, A. G.; Ryabov, Igor; Aleksakhin, R. M.; Povalyaev, A. P.; Buldakov, L.A.; Borzilov, V.A.

doi:10.1007/bf01124005

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…An estimated 1 to 2 MCi, or about 4 × 10 18 Becquerels (Bq; [1–3]) were distributed over a broad geographic area of Eastern Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia [4,5]. Regions immediately surrounding the reactor were particularly contaminated, resulting in the loss of about 400 ha of pine forest [6]. The region around the reactor is now protected by an outer exclusion zone, where there is minimal habitation by man, and a more tightly controlled inner exclusion zone, where there is limited human activity.…”

Section: Radiocesium (134137cs) Concentration (Becquerels Per Gram) Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of ¹³⁴¹³⁷cesium and ⁹⁰strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Chesser

Sugg

Lomakin³

et al. 2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Free‐ranging mammals near the Chornobyl nuclear reactor are experiencing substantial radiation dose rates from intramuscular concentrations of 134137Cs and skeletal 90Sr. Radiocesium concentrations averaged 3,200 Bq/g of dry muscle, compared to a mean of 297 Bq 90Sr/g in bone for mammals in the Exclusion Zone, a region of restricted human activity surrounding the reactor. Estimates of dose rates from intramuscular sources of radiocesium averaged 2.4 mGy/d within 8 km of the reactor and ranged as high as 60 mGy/d. Overall dose rates from internal 90Sr for mammals in the Exclusion Zone averaged 1.0 mGy/d, although doses to specific tissues are likely much higher. Mammals captured 30 km southeast of the reactor averaged only 2 Bq/g of muscle and were receiving an average of 1.4 μuGy/d from internal radiocesium. Dramatic variation exists in the spatial pattern of radiocesium in areas immediately surrounding the reactor and within and between remediated and unremediated regions. The variance of 90Sr for taxa among sites was significantly less than that for 134137Cs. Thermoluminescent dosimeters placed on free‐ranging mice showed that dose rates from external sources of radiation were much greater than the dose rates from internal sources of radiocesium. Estimated dose rates in very small areas of the Chornobyl region exceed those reported to impede reproductive success in mammals.

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Section: Radiocesium (134137cs) Concentration (Becquerels Per Gram) Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of ¹³⁴¹³⁷cesium and ⁹⁰strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Chesser

Sugg

Lomakin³

et al. 2000

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…The radionuclide composition of the ground contamination within 100 km of the Chernobyl NPS is reported by Izrael et al [ 14 ]. They indicate that the composition varies, depending on direction from the NPS and also on distance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the accident process, radioactivity release and ground contamination between Chernobyl and Fukushima-1

2015

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In this report, we have reviewed the basic features of the accident processes and radioactivity releases that occurred in the Chernobyl accident (1986) and in the Fukushima-1 accident (2011). The Chernobyl accident was a power-surge accident that was caused by a failure of control of a fission chain reaction, which instantaneously destroyed the reactor and building, whereas the Fukushima-1 accident was a loss-of-coolant accident in which the reactor cores of three units were melted by decay heat after losing the electricity supply. Although the quantity of radioactive noble gases released from Fukushima-1 exceeded the amount released from Chernobyl, the size of land area severely contaminated by 137Cesium (137Cs) was 10 times smaller around Fukushima-1 compared with around Chernobyl. The differences in the accident process are reflected in the composition of the discharged radioactivity as well as in the composition of the ground contamination. Volatile radionuclides (such as 132Te-132I, 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs) contributed to the gamma-ray exposure from the ground contamination around Fukishima-1, whereas a greater variety of radionuclides contributed significantly around Chernobyl. When radioactivity deposition occurred, the radiation exposure rate near Chernobyl is estimated to have been 770 μGy h−1 per initial 137Cs deposition of 1000 kBq m−2, whereas it was 100 μGy h−1 around Fukushima-1. Estimates of the cumulative exposure for 30 years are 970 and 570 mGy per initial deposition of 1000 kBq m−2 for Chernobyl and Fukusima-1, respectively. Of these exposures, 49 and 98% were contributed by radiocesiums (134Cs + 137Cs) around Chernobyl and Fukushima-1, respectively.

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“…An estimated 1 to 2 MCi, or about 4 ϫ 10 18 Becquerels (Bq; [1][2][3]) were distributed over a broad geographic area of Eastern Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia [4,5]. Regions immediately surrounding the reactor were particularly contaminated, resulting in the loss of about 400 ha of pine forest [6]. The region around the reactor is now protected by an outer exclusion zone, where there is minimal habitation by man, and a more tightly controlled inner exclusion zone, where there is limited human activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations and Dose Rate Estimates of 134,137cesium and 90strontium in Small Mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine

Chesser¹,

Sugg²,

Lomakin³

et al. 2000

Environ Toxicol Chem

118

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Abstract-Free-ranging mammals near the Chornobyl nuclear reactor are experiencing substantial radiation dose rates from intramuscular concentrations of 134,137 Cs and skeletal 90 Sr. Radiocesium concentrations averaged 3,200 Bq/g of dry muscle, compared to a mean of 297 Bq 90 Sr/g in bone for mammals in the Exclusion Zone, a region of restricted human activity surrounding the reactor. Estimates of dose rates from intramuscular sources of radiocesium averaged 2.4 mGy/d within 8 km of the reactor and ranged as high as 60 mGy/d. Overall dose rates from internal 90 Sr for mammals in the Exclusion Zone averaged 1.0 mGy/d, although doses to specific tissues are likely much higher. Mammals captured 30 km southeast of the reactor averaged only 2 Bq/g of muscle and were receiving an average of 1.4 Gy/d from internal radiocesium. Dramatic variation exists in the spatial pattern of radiocesium in areas immediately surrounding the reactor and within and between remediated and unremediated regions. The variance of 90 Sr for taxa among sites was significantly less than that for 134,137 Cs. Thermoluminescent dosimeters placed on free-ranging mice showed that dose rates from external sources of radiation were much greater than the dose rates from internal sources of radiocesium. Estimated dose rates in very small areas of the Chornobyl region exceed those reported to impede reproductive success in mammals.

show abstract

The ecological consequences of the radioactive contamination of the natural environment in the region of the chernobyl atomic power station accident

Cited by 14 publications

References 1 publication

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of ¹³⁴¹³⁷cesium and ⁹⁰strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of ¹³⁴¹³⁷cesium and ⁹⁰strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Comparison of the accident process, radioactivity release and ground contamination between Chernobyl and Fukushima-1

Concentrations and Dose Rate Estimates of 134,137cesium and 90strontium in Small Mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine

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The ecological consequences of the radioactive contamination of the natural environment in the region of the chernobyl atomic power station accident

Cited by 14 publications

References 1 publication

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of 134137cesium and 90strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of 134137cesium and 90strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Comparison of the accident process, radioactivity release and ground contamination between Chernobyl and Fukushima-1

Concentrations and Dose Rate Estimates of 134,137cesium and 90strontium in Small Mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of ¹³⁴¹³⁷cesium and ⁹⁰strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine

Concentrations and dose rate estimates of ¹³⁴¹³⁷cesium and ⁹⁰strontium in small mammals at chornobyl, Ukraine