Preventive radioecological assessment of territory for optimization of monitoring and countermeasures after radiation accidents.

A methodology of a preventive radioecological assessment of the territory has been developed for optimizing post-emergency monitoring and countermeasure implementation in an event of a severe radiation accident. Approaches and main stages of integrated radioecological zoning of the territory are described. An algorithm for the assessment of the potential radioecological criticality (sensitivity) of the area is presented.

[Radioecology as a branch of natural science: some thoughts on the interesting past, intricate and vital present and future prospects].

The paper describes more than a century-old history of radioecology, science which studies radionuclide migration in the environment and ionizing radiation effects on biota. The main stages are identified in the development of this branch of natural science associated with the study of problems of radioactive contamination of the biosphere (global radionuclide fallout after nuclear weapons tests, radiation accidents with the release of radioactive substances to the environment). Currently, the basic imperative of radioecological investigations is the analysis of radioecological aspects of nuclear power engineering (mainly problems of radioactive waste management).

[The cradle of the Russian radioecology (to the 50th anniversary of the Kyshtym radiation accident)].

On September 29, 1957, at a nuclear industry facility (Production Association "Mayak"), there was a large radiation accident resulting in the release of radioactive wastes into the environment and the formation of the East-Urals Radioactive Trail (EURT). Within the EURT and there established in 1958 an Experimental Scientific Research Station (ESRS) which came to be known as alma mater of domestic radioecology, various comprehensive long-term investigations had been carried out. The main results of these 50-year investigations have been summarized for a broad range of problems on radionuclide migration in the natural environment and ionizing radiation effects on biota, as well as problems of environmental protection.

Radiation-induced effects on plants and animals: findings of the United Nations Chernobyl Forum.

Several United Nations organizations sought to dispel the uncertainties and controversy that still exist concerning the effects of the Chernobyl accident. A Chernobyl Forum of international expertise was established to reach consensus on the environmental consequences and health effects attributable to radiation exposure arising from the accident. This review is a synopsis of the subgroup that examined the radiological effects to nonhuman biota within the 30-km Exclusion Zone.

[Method of quantified complete estimation of soil properties for prediction of radionuclide accumulation by plants].

A method is founded on consideration of soil as three-phase system where soil solution reaction (pH), absorbing capacity (E) and content of organic matter (OM) are the main characteristics. The method of complete estimation of soil properties (CESP) for quantified analysis of radionuclide soil-to-plant TF dependence on soil properties is grounded and proposed. The area of an effective section (relative units)2 calculated as an area of the triangle with apexes lying in co-ordinates of normalised vectors pH, E and OM in three-dimensional space for complete estimation is used.