Chornobyl exclusion zone: current status and challenges.

Comparisons of the large nuclear accidents that occurred at the nuclear power plants in Chornobyl and Fukushima usually focus on the emission of radionuclides, the contamination area, doses to the public and liquidation workers, etc. However, little attention has been paid to various factors that affect decisions regarding the future development of these territories, such as the sociopolitical and economic situation in the countries during the accident and at the present time, the density and structure of the population, climate change, media coverage, and accessibility of information to the public. This article attempts to discuss the above factors, speculates about the paths for future development of both exclusion zones, and suggests the most promising areas for joint research in the future.

Modification of (137)Cs transfer to rape (Brassica napus L.) phytomass under the influence of soil microorganisms.

After nuclear accidents, such as those experienced in Chernobyl and Fukushima, microorganisms may help purify contaminated soils by changing the mobility of radionuclides and their availability for plants by altering the physical and chemical properties of the substrate. Here, using model experiments with quartz sand as a substrate we investigate the influence of microorganisms on (137)Cs transfer from substrate to plants. The highest transition of (137)Cs from substrate to plants (50% increase compared to the control) was observed after Brassica napus L.

[Effect of soil microflora on 137Cs transition to plants].

The impact of certain types of microorganisms on 137Cs transfer from the substrate into the plant was analyzed in the experiment on artificial mediums. It was found that certain types of microorganisms could either reduce or increase the ratio of 137Cs transfer from the substrate to the plant. It is shown that this property is independent of the localization of the microorganism on the surface of the root, for all the analyzed bacteria belonging to the rhizospheric group.

[Qualitative composition of dominating forms of microorganisms isolated from radionuclide contaminated soil and their ability to accumulate 137Cs].

Qualitative composition of the dominating forms of microorganisms isolated from radionuclide contaminated soils has been studied. The ability to accumulate 137Cs by freshly isolated species and collection cultures that were not adapted to the presence of the radionuclide has been analyzed. It is shown that among the analyzed microorganisms the greatest ability to accumulate the radionuclide is inherent in the collection culture Bacillus megaterium UKMV-5724.