Centre for ecological problems of atomic energy

(Head – Ph. D. V. V. Tryshyn)

Main directions of scientific activity:

1. Radioecological:

• Research of natural and technogenical radionuclides peculiarities in ground and water ecosystems components of different Ukrainian ground-climatic zones.
• Research of Chernobyl accident influence on ground and water ecosystems.
• Elaboration of the radioanalytical methods (radiochemical, α, γ-spectrometrical, neutron-activated), determination of radionuclides and heavy metals content in environmental samples, determination of nuclear materials characteristics.
• Mathematical simulation of radiation in “NPP-environment” system.
• Creation of the maps of the radioactive contamination for ChNPP and other operating Ukrainian NPP influenced zone, suffered during the accident.
• Forecast of doses for population who live in of atomic energy enterprises influenced zone.
• Ecological examinations in the field of the environment and population protection on different stages of design and operation of atomic energy enterprises.
• Regulational radioecological monitoring of the nuclear research reactor WWR-M environment and tritium laboratories, located in KINR.

2. Radiobiological:

• Study of the effects and patterns of long term low dose rate irradiation influence to the genetic substances on chromosome and genes level and membrane structures of human somatic cells.
• “Shelter” object personnel and self-settlers NPP Exclusion Zone cytogenetic monitoring.

The most important scientific results:

• Effectiveness and sufficiency radioactive monitoring system methodology in NPP Exclusion Zone on the base of deterministic and statistic approaches mixture was created.
• Maps of contamination by Cs-137, Sr-90, Pu-238-240-, Am-241 in Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Rivno, Chernigiv and Cherkasy regions on the base of geostatistic data analysis of radioecological monitoring from 1986 till 2001 and the results of the additional inspection were created.
• Own techniques for Sr-90, Pu-238-240-, Am-241, γ-irradiated radionuclides from one sample and neutron activated analysis (NAA) of natural environmental were developed.
• Computer program Neutron Activation Analysis Prognosis and Optimization (NAAPRO) for the forecast of NAA results and optimization was completed. This program was presented to the Radiation Safety Informational Computation Center banks of computer programs in Oakridge National Lab (USA) and European Collection of Data Codes in Paris (France).
• Selection of some kinds of mushrooms as radioactive pollution indicators based on long-term radiocesium monitoring in the forest ecosystems of ChNPP Exclusion Zone. Forecast estimation of radiocesium behavior in the forest ecosystems by correlation of its content in mushrooms with different depth of mycelium layers.
• Determination of radionuclides accumulation levels by fishes in dependence of isotopes content in water, fish feed-regime, fish organs and tissues (monitoring of ChNPP pond-cooler starting from 1986).
• It is proved by means of routine cytogenetic analysis of the chromosome aberration stabilization in 30-km ChNPP Exclusion Zone self-settler’s blood lymphocytes during 12 - 18 years of post accidental period is higher compared to that of Yahotyn district Kyiv region residents not are contaminated with Chornobyl origin radionuclides.
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• It is fixed that living on contaminated by radionuclides areas among the aged people (more than 60) the sensitivity of genetic substances (chromosomes, genes) and repair systems in somatic cells at low irradiation dose is lower, compared to younger people. Relation between the level of genetic damage to accumulation of the whole body total dose (up to 200 mSv) and on redbone marrow (180 mSv) is not determined, in other words the irradiation dose due to these conditions play not so important role than the individual radio sensitivity.
• The cells with multiple chromosome radiation markers, that are characteristic for the effects of incorporated α- radiation, in ChNPP Exclusion Zone and “Shelter” object personnel are detected.