CHRONIC IRRADIATION OF SCOTS PINE TREES (PINUS SYLVESTRIS) IN THE CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE: DOSIMETRY AND RADIOBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · HEALTH PHYSICS JOURNAL

OSTI ID:1024193

Farfan, E; Jannik, T

To identify effects of chronic internal and external radiation exposure for components of terrestrial ecosystems, a comprehensive study of Scots pine trees in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was performed. The experimental plan included over 1,100 young trees (up to 20 years old) selected from areas with varying levels of radioactive contamination. These pine trees were planted after the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident mainly to prevent radionuclide resuspension and soil erosion. For each tree, the major morphological parameters and radioactive contamination values were identified. Cytological analyses were performed for selected trees representing all dose rate ranges. A specially developed dosimetric model capable of taking into account radiation from the incorporated radionuclides in the trees was developed for the apical meristem. The calculated dose rates for the trees in the study varied within three orders of magnitude, from close to background values in the control area (about 5 mGy y{sup -1}) to approximately 7 Gy y{sup -1} in the Red Forest area located in the immediate vicinity of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant site. Dose rate/effect relationships for morphological changes and cytogenetic defects were identified and correlations for radiation effects occurring on the morphological and cellular level were established.

• Research Organization: SRS
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-08SR22470
• OSTI ID: 1024193
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI-2011-00534
• Journal Information: HEALTH PHYSICS JOURNAL, Journal Name: HEALTH PHYSICS JOURNAL; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
ACCIDENTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHRONIC IRRADIATION
CONTAMINATION
DEFECTS
DOSE RATES
DOSIMETRY
FORESTS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PARTICLE RESUSPENSION
PINES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES