Thirty years after the Chernobyl accident: What lessons have we learnt?

Abstract

April 2016 sees the 30(th) anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. As a consequence of the accident populations were relocated in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine and remedial measures were put in place to reduce the entry of contaminants (primarily (134+137)Cs) into the human food chain in a number of countries throughout Europe. Remedial measures are still today in place in a number of countries, and areas of the former Soviet Union remain abandoned. The Chernobyl accident led to a large resurgence in radioecological studies both to aid remediation and to be able to make future predictions on the post-accident situation, but, also in recognition that more knowledge was required to cope with future accidents. In this paper we discuss, what in the authors' opinions, were the advances made in radioecology as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident. The areas we identified as being significantly advanced following Chernobyl were: the importance of semi-natural ecosystems in human dose formation; the characterisation and environmental behaviour of 'hot particles'; the development and application of countermeasures; the "fixation" and long term bioavailability of radiocaesium and; the effects of radiation on plants and animals.

Concentrations of Radiocesium in Local Foods Collected in Kawauchi Village after the Accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station

“…reported that children consuming fungi showed a high 137 Cs body burden near the plant16. It is well known that after the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, wild fungi could be an important contributor to 137 Cs body burdens, due to their capacity to accumulate 137 Cs, and that certain population groups showed relatively high internal exposure due to intakes of such foodstuffs17. Since the accident at FDNPS, decontamination in the forests beyond a 20-m radius from residential houses has not been conducted10, leading to the relatively high concentrations of radiocesium in edible wild plants and fungi.…”

Spatial datasets of radionuclide contamination in the Ukrainian Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

“…These larger fragments were predominantly deposited at a distance of 2-5 km from the reactor (Kashparov et al, 1999). The deposition of particles was a distinguishing feature of radioactive contamination of the Chernobyl accident and the behaviour of radionuclides associated with such particles in the environment had not previously been considered (Loshchilov et al, 1991;Beresford et al, 2016).…”

“…-The presence of radioactive particles means that their behaviour in the environment can be studied (Kashparov et al, 1999;Beresford et al, 2016). Fuel particles (FPs) are weathered with time such that mobilisation of 90 Sr has been observed to lead to increased contamination of plants (Salbu et al, 1994;Oughton et al, 1993;Kashparov et al, 1999).…”

Low-dose radiation-induced risk in spermatogenesis

“…A series of rodent studies in highly contaminated sites (average dose up to 830 mGy/h) showed no clear evidence of genetic changes compared to control sites (Baker et al 2001;Wickliffe et al 2002). However, a study in Belarus which experienced lower dose rates (up to 30 mGy/day) showed increased frequency of chromosome aberrations (Goncharova and Ryabokon 1995;Beresford et al 2016). …”

“…Prior to the Chernobyl accident, mammals were perceived to be among the most radiosensitive taxonomic groups (Geras'kin et al 2008;Beresford et al 2016). A series of rodent studies in highly contaminated sites (average dose up to 830 mGy/h) showed no clear evidence of genetic changes compared to control sites (Baker et al 2001;Wickliffe et al 2002).…”