Recent  scientific results and their brief description

Bulletin of the radiation situation in the critical settlements at the territories of Ukraine contaminated with radionuclides

Bulletin of the radiation situation in the critical settlements at the territories of Ukraine contaminated with radionuclides was prepared within the frameworks of the program “Radiological monitoring of agricultural production and areas in the critical settlements of Ukraine”. The Bulletin summarizes the materials obtained in the monitoring survey of 2004-2009 in the most critical settlements. In each settlements all pastures were identified which were used for grazing cattle from the private subsidiary plots. The pasture-oriented sampling of milk was performed. Thus, the radiological passports of the pastures for each settlement were created. Such an approach in the future will enable the accurate realization of the countermeasures and targeted governmental funding aimed to improve the radiological situation in the most critical areas.

Adaptation of the single cell gel electrophoresis for quantification of the cytogenetic effects of radiation to plants

       UIAR NUBiP adapted the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet Assay) for quantification of the cytogenetic effects of irradiation in the apical meristem tissues of plants (Scots pine). The method is based on isolation of the cell nuclei and their further encapsulation in the agarose layer at the microscope slide. Image analysis was performed using the special software designed for determination of the chromatin quantities in the nuclei and “comet” tails. Thus, for each sample (and, respectively, for each dose rate range) it is possible to identify the numeric value of the cytogenetic effect related to the DNA breaks.

       It was shown that the results obtained by means of Comet assay correlated well with the results obtained in direct visual detection of the chromosome aberrations in cells. For apical meristem tissues of Scots pine the dependency “dose rate – cytogenetic effect” was formulated. The possible mechanism of chronic irradiation impact was proposed which related the effects at the cell and morphological levels.

Main page of the database of effects of chronic irradiation to biota (pine plantations of the Exclusion zone)   

Typical “comet”

Under the aegis of the NATO in 2009 the collection of the scientific works presented

at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop was prepared

The development of the materials for Evaluation of impacts to the environment of nuclear units #3 and #4 of Khmel’nitsky NPP for VAT KND&PKI “Energoproject” was completed.