Abstract
In the initial aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl accident there were detrimental effects recorded on wildlife, including, mass mortality of pine trees close to the reactor, reduced pine seed production, reductions in soil invertebrate abundance and diversity and likely death of small mammals.More than 30 years after the Chernobyl accident there is no consensus on the longer-term impact of the chronic exposure to radiation on wildlife in what is now referred to as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Reconciling this lack of consensus is one of the main challenges for radioecology. With the inclusion of environmental protection in, for instance, the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), we need to be able to incorporate knowledge of the potential effects of radiation on wildlife within the regulatory process (e.g. as a basis on which to define benchmark dose rates).In this paper, we use examples of reported effects on different wildlife groups inhabiting the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) as a framework to discuss potential reasons for the lack of consensus, consider important factors influencing dose rates organisms receive and make some recommendations on good practice.
Highlights
The 1986 Chernobyl accident led to the largest release of radioactivity to the terrestrial environment in the approximately 60 years of nuclear power production
2600 km2 of this abandoned area is in the Ukraine and has become known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ); the remainder is in Belarus
Dose rates in the CEZ remain sufficiently high (e.g. Beresford et al, 2019) that, based upon our existing understanding, we would anticipate radiation induced effects on many types of wildlife which may potentially impact on populations (ICRP, 2008)
Summary
The 1986 Chernobyl accident led to the largest release of radioactivity to the terrestrial environment in the approximately 60 years of nuclear power production. Beresford et al, 2019) that, based upon our existing understanding, we would anticipate radiation induced effects on many types of wildlife which may potentially impact on populations (ICRP, 2008). In the aftermath of the accident, wildlife in some areas of the CEZ were exposed to extremely high dose rates with consequent significant detrimental effects being observed in a range of organism types (e.g. Gersk'kin et al, 2008). Smith, 2008; Wickliffe and Baker, 2011; Mousseau and Møller, 2012; Beresford et al, 2012) This lack of consensus relates to studies conducted one or more decades after the accident. Radiation effects on wildlife, this lack of scientific consensus can have a high public profile and represents one of radioecology's key challenges
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