Chronic Irradiation of Scots Pine Trees (Pinus Sylvestris) in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: Dosimetry and Radiobiological Effects

Abstract

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

Response Arrigo Cigna

“…We thank Cigna for his contribution and, in general, for the interest in our study (Yoschenko et al 2011)! Based on the presented information we would like to state two points.…”

Application of computational models to estimate organ radiation dose in rainbow trout from uptake of molybdenum-99 with comparison to iodine-131

“…Biermans et al (2014) considered two separate ellipsoids representing shoots and roots, respectively, to represent Arabidopsis thaliana. Although a computational phantom was not used per se, Yoschenko et al (2011) implemented a stylized approach for internal dose assessment, using a well-defined and representative geometry for various organs in Scots pine trees.…”

A Tale of Two Forests: Addressing Postnuclear Radiation at Chernobyl and Fukushima

“…Deteriorating dirt roads beyond Pripyat pass through a deceptively lovely panorama: open patches studded with young pines and birch ( Betula pendula ), their leaves golden green, white bark luminescent in soft morning light. Even most pines, more sensitive to radiation than birches, 13 seem normal.…”

“…Levels of cesium-137 in exclusion zone soils vary from around 37 kBq/m 2 (the threshold for hazardous contamination used by Soviet authorities 14 ) to 75,000 kBq/m 2 in a random pattern that reflects the haphazard releases of radionuclides during the 10-day event 15 . In the Red Forest, the pines planted after the accident have grown without a central leading stem, rendering them odd-looking dwarfs more like bushes than trees 13 . Some places are too heavily contaminated to support natural conifer regeneration; pines rarely seed themselves in areas where human dose rates exceed 30 µSv/hr, says Timothy Mousseau, a professor of biological sciences at the University of South Carolina.…”