"Effects of the pine forest irradiation at the long-term root intake of the Chernobyl radionuclides"
The new project "Effects of the pine forest irradiation at the long-term root intake of the Chernobyl radionuclides" had started at 2006 .
We invite all interested parties for collaboration in this field.
Purpose and Objective
Our project is aimed to fill the gaps of the knowledge about the radiobiological aspects of the Chernobyl accident. With this purpose, we will carry out the thorough studies of the morphological and cytological changes in the plants at the detail characterized experimental site. Selection of pine (which is very sensible to irradiation) as a main object of the study, and high contaminated TSRW Red Forest as the experimental site will guarantee the certain detection of the radiobiological effects and enable formulation of the reliable dose-effect dependencies. The project will include both extensive experimental researches (detection, identification and quantification of the morphological changes, radionuclides activity measurements and determination of their soil-to-plant transfer and distribution in the pine tree, autoradiography and cytological studies etc) and corresponding theoretical works (calculation of the doses to the various organs of the tree, dose-effect modeling and interpretation of the obtained dependencies). Thus, we plan to perform the complex studies in the well-controlled natural conditions. Details of the proposed studies are presented in the following chapters of this document; now, we have to note that taking into account the previous researches within the frameworks of other projects, there is one more important feature of the present project: it will complete the multi-aspect characterization of the typical TSRW in the Exclusion zone. Such a complex research will be unique.
What is the objective?
The primary objective of the project is formulation of the dose-effect dependencies for morphological and cytological changes in the pine trees resulting from the long-term root uptake of the radionuclides in the highly-contaminated areas of the Chornobyl Exclusion zone. This task will finalize the whole project after completion of the necessary experimental and modeling works, and will include both quantification and theoretical interpretation of the obtained empirical dependencies.
Expected Significance
There are several features determining the scientific novelty of the proposed project:
· the researches will be carried out in natural conditions of the Chornobyl Exclusion zone, at the long-term intensive root uptake of the radionuclides into the trees;
· the effects of irradiation to the pine trees will be identified and quantified in a wide dose range;
· a dosimetric model will be developed for estimation of the spatial dose distribution in the trees’ organs. It will enable calculation of the dose in the critical organs or their parts;
· a method will be elaborated for in-vivo measurement of the radionuclides activities in trees including their trunks.
These results and methodology will get us closer to understanding of the fundamental radiobiological processes. In general, along with the acquired skill, it will allow us to extend significantly the area of our future researches and to participate in the projects aimed to rehabilitation of the Chornobyl Exclusion zone.