Issues of Scientific Support of Radiation Safety Based on the Experience of Overcoming the Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident

Abstract

The measures on liquidation of the Chernobyl accident consequences are analyzed from the point of view of topical issues of ensuring radiation safety of the personnel of radiation hazardous facilities and the population. The following problems have been considered: organization of liquidation of medical and sanitary consequences and rendering medical aid to victims of the Chernobyl accident; radiation hygienic standardization, control and monitoring; improvement of emergency response system; development of new medical technologies for treatment of acute radiation disease and local radiation injuries; application of radiation protective drugs. It is stated that the experience of liquidation of the Chernobyl accident consequences created a scientifically grounded base for the work on further improvement of the radiation safety assurance system with fixation of the main provisions in the existing regulatory documents. Conclusions are drawn about the expediency of: - development of new medical and sanitary technologies aimed at ensuring radiation safety; - completion of a unified system of response and protection in the event of radiation accidents; - further search and development of methods and means of prevention and treatment of human radiation pathology, including innovative biomedical technologies; - improving the methodology for studying the consequences of radiation exposure of the personnel of radiation hazardous facilities and the population; - development of a new scientific field — medical nuclear forensics.