Riverside Villages Research Articles

Interpretation of FISH Results in the Case of Nonuniform Internal Radiation Exposure of Human Body with the Use of Model Approach

The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique allows for the estimation of the number of stable chromosomal aberrations (translocations) in human blood T-lymphocytes decades after radiation exposure. Therefore, it is used for retrospective assessment of irradiation doses received by red bone marrow (RBM). Cytogenetic analysis of individuals exposed on the Techa River in the 1950s to 89,90Sr, locally irradiating RBM, showed that dose assessment based on FISH data led to underestimation of the actual dose estimated from measurements of whole-body 90Sr content. The purpose of current study was to evaluate the dose–effect relationship and the frequency of translocations per 1 Gy of RBM irradiation dose and T-lymphocytes dose for donors living in Techa riverside villages (n = 178; translocation yield = 2389; number of genome equivalents GE = 96 446). Irradiation doses were estimated using the latest version of the Techa River dosimetry system and the T-cell irradiation model. Statistical analysis showed that the frequency of translocations per 1000 GE per 1 Gy of RBM dose was 8.0 ± 0.7; this value was statistically significantly lower than the value estimated for Sellafield radiation workers under external exposure (11.6 ± 1.6). At the same time, the use of T-cell and their progenitor doses led to re-evaluation (increase) in the slope of the dose–response curve to 11.8 ± 1.6 per 1 Gy per 1000 GE, which agreed well with the published data. The obtained estimates of the background frequencies of translocations also were close to the published values ​​for unexposed donors. These findings demonstrate the legitimacy of using a model approach for estimation of irradiation doses in T-lymphocytes and their progenitors and the need to take into account complex T-cell dynamics in interpretation of cytogenetic data for the purposes of biodosimetry.

Update of Early Warning Indicators of Flash Floods: A Case Study of Hunjiang District, Northeastern China

The China flash flood investigation and evaluation database (CFFIED) covers important information needed for China’s flash flood warning. This paper uses a statistical induction method, inference formula method and standardized unit hydrograph method to explore its principle, characteristics, and key steps. Then based on the field investigation and the latest data on the flash flood, the Hunjiang District in northeastern China was selected as the research area. Firstly, three typical riverside villages, Xiangmo-1 and Sanchahe-3, Shangqing-4, were screened, and the flash flood warning indicators (e.g., water level, flow rate, critical rainfall) in the CFFIED were updated. Then, the maximum error of the flood peak, estimated by the inference formula method and the water level flow relationship method, is only 10.6%, which indicates that the predicted flood peak flow has high credibility and can check and identify the early warning index; the Manning formula is more accurate in calculating the water level flow relationship. However, the calculated ratio is lower and the roughness is higher, and the flow is smaller under the same water level. Finally, the updated flash flood warning indicators were obtained in the Hunjiang District, which improves the accuracy of the flash flood warning, and provides a reference for updating the early warning indicators in other areas.

Emerging neglected helminthiasis and determinants of multiple helminth infections in flood-prone township in Myanmar

BackgroundMyanmar has similar agro-based ecology and environmental risks as others in the Greater Mekong sub-region leading to the broad array of helminthic infections. Basic health staff (BHS) from the public sector forms a key stakeholder group in deworming interventions. The study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of multiple species helminth infections to promote township-level integrated interventions.MethodsA cross-sectional implementation research study in 2017 covered randomly selected 240 households in four villages of Shwegyin Township. Trained interviewers administered the pre-tested structured questionnaire to either the household head or the assigned person concerning their knowledge, perceptions, practices, food habits, and deworming experience. Concomitantly, the research team collected a single stool sample from each of 698 participants (age range of 8 months to 87 years) from 93% (224/240) of eligible households and examined by Kato-Katz smear microscopy. Eventually, 16 BHS joined the interactive dialogue session based on research evidence and knowledge translated for further validation.ResultsThe estimated prevalence of at least one helminth infection was 24% [168/698; 95% CI 21.0–27.0]. Apart from the soil-transmitted helminths (14%), zoonotic helminths especially Taenia spp. (0.7%) and Schistosoma spp. (3%) were detected. Almost half of the seasonally mobile gold panning workers (12/25; 48%) and 46% of pre-school-age children had helminth infections. Community risk groups at riverside villages had significantly higher multiple species helminth infection than those from inland villages (AOR = 10.9; 95% CI 4.9–24.2). Gold panning workers had higher infection rates than other categories (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI 0.6–9.5) but not significant. In flood-prone areas, householders failed to follow the guidelines to construct/re-construct specific type of sanitary latrines and challenges remained in disseminating health messages for community engagement. The innovative ideas recapitulated by BHS included the integration of health talks during the sessions for small agricultural loans and to harness advocacy with water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.ConclusionsThe emerging evidence of neglected zoonotic helminths required attention to introduce the periodic mopping-up and the “selective deworming plan” for vulnerable groups to cover the missed targets. Further multidisciplinary research to confirm the intermediate hosts and vectors of zoonotic helminths in the environment is essential for surveillance and response.

Spatio-temporal Analysis Dynamics of the Landscape in the Classified Forest of Koulbi, Southwestern of Burkina Faso

Most of the protected areas in Burkina Faso are affected by deforestation and forest degradation. This study is done in order to analysis the spatial and temporal dynamics of the classified forest of Koulbi and to identify the drivers of deforestation in the forest. For that, three Landsat images from 1986, 1998 and 2014 were exploited. The supervised classification based on the artificial neural network algorithm, under the ENVI software, was used. A transition matrix was established to analyze land use/land cover changes. The standardized precipitation index of 1985 to 2014 was used to access climate trend. Survey data from riverside villages and field observations were used to assess the human impact. The results show that between 1986 and 2014, the woodlands and tree savannas areas were reduced by 7% and 0.49% per year, respectively. However, substantial yearly increases in the areas of shrub savanna (2.8%) and agricultural fields (1.4%) were observed. During this period, the rainfall had a sharp trend towards aridity, with 18 years of drought against 12 years of humidity. This show that deficit of rainfall is increase. The socio-economic survey revealed that the classified forest used to be highly occupied and 64% of the inhabitants were yam producers. Cattle breeders and gold diggers have also been observed. We conclude that human activities are the main cause of degradation of the vegetation cover of the Koulbi classified forest. And climatic factors to some extent. It will be necessary to take actions to better conservation.

ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF LONG-LIVED RADIONUCLIDE BODY BURDEN MONITORING IN RESIDENTS OF THE URALS REGION

Objective of the study: To conduct a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the dynamics of internal exposure levels in the territories contaminated due to the activities of the Mayak Production Association, based upon the results of long-term monitoring of the long-lived anthropogenic radionuclide body burden in residents of the Urals region. Materials and methods: The data of postmortem and in vivo examinations for three groups of population were analyzed: 1) residents of riverside villages of the upper and middle reaches of the Techa River, contaminated in 1949-1956 with liquid radioactive waste; 2) people who were exposed as a result of the 1957 accident on the territory of the East Urals Radioactive Trace; 3) residents of the Ozyorsk city, located at an 8 km distance from the enterprise. The following methods of the examinations were used: 1) radiochemical analysis of specimens of organs and tissues sampled at autopsy; 2) in vivo measurements with the use of the whole body counters. The results of measurements of cesium-137, strontium-90 and trans-uranium radionuclide body burden over the period 1950s – present are provided. Data analysis made it possible to distinguish two historically formed groups of population with the maximum levels of current strontium-90 and plutonium body burden. The first group included people who lived in the early 1950’s in the basin of the Techa River, for whom the levels of oral intake of 90Sr reached 1.4 MBq/year. The second group comprised residents of the Ozyorsk city, for whom the levels of inhalation intake of plutonium in the period 1951–1958 reached 8 Bq/year. Conclusion: Estimates of the committed effective doses due to the intake of long-lived radionuclides over the period from 1949 through 2012 for critical groups of residents of the Urals were: 300 mSv for former residents of the Muslyumovo settlement on the Techa River (90Sr contribution – 85%) and 13 mSv for residents of the Ozyorsk city (the contribution of trans-uranium radionuclides is 30%).

Транскрипционная активность генов TP53 и MDM2 в отдаленный период у лиц, подвергшихся хроническому радиационному воздействию

Purpose: To study the levels of transcriptional activity of TP53 and MDM2 genes in the residents of the Techa riverside villages chronically exposed at a wide dose range. Material and methods: transcriptional activity of TP53 and MDM2 genes was assessed in 95 persons. The main study group included 80 people exposed to combined external and internal radiation (peripheral blood samples were taken 60–70 years after the beginning of chronic radiation exposure), mean accumulated dose to red bone marrow was 0.86 ± 0.08 Gy (doses varied in the range 0.1–3.65 Gy). The control group consisted of 15 people living in similar socio-economic conditions in the Southern Urals; the accumulated doses to red bone marrow did not exceed 0.07 Gy. Gene transcription activity profile was studied with real-time PCR assay. The data were analyzed using a comparative CT method with normalization to the “housekeeping” gene transcription in each sample. Statistical analysis was performed using the software PAST. Results and conclusion: In the course of the analysis we did not receive statistically significant differences between the study groups, but there was a tendency to a decrease in gene transcription in the group of exposed persons. The correlation analysis showed a weak negative dependence for TP53 and MDM2 genes, and this dependence was characterized not only by the accumulated dose value but was also associated with the age of the individuals under study. A tendency to a decrease in the transcription activity of the genes under study was noted when studying the effect of the dose. Statistically significant differences were shown for MDM2 gene in the group of individuals whose accumulated doses exceeded 2 Gy (p = 0.044). The analysis of age-peculiarities on gene transcription revealed a statistically significant decrease in TP53 gene transcription with increasing age of patients (p = 0.02). Non-radiation factors including smoking were also studied. The levels of gene transcription were compared between men and women of 2 main ethnicities (Bashkirs/Tartars and Slavs). Results of the study showed that neither sex nor ethnicity had any effect on the levels of TP53 and MDM2 gene transcription in the study groups. The effect of smoking on the activity of the genes under study was negligible.

The Semantic Network of Space of Growth and Changing Family History Composition - With a focus on Kim Ae-ran's Fly Data Recorder and Jeon Gyeong-rin's The Riverside Village -

The Semantic Network of Space of Growth and Changing Family History Composition - With a focus on Kim Ae-ran's Fly Data Recorder and Jeon Gyeong-rin's The Riverside Village -

Cataract in the chronically exposed residents of the Techa riverside villages.

The present study is based on a retrospective analysis of archive data of the Clinical Department of the Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine that has been established to examine and treat accidentally exposed residents of the Urals Region. All individuals included in this study were examined by an ophthalmologist. The study of cataract incidence has been conducted retrospectively for the period from 1951 till 2000 among chronically exposed residents of the Techa riverside villages (6343 persons). Individual accumulated absorbed doses to soft tissues (analogue of eye dose) reached 1.18Gy (mean 0.12Gy) while for 88.9% of the study group the dose did not exceed 0.1Gy. There was no evidence of the influence of low-dose and low-dose rate on cataract incidence. Excess relative risk of cataract formation per 1Gy was 0.40 (95% CI -0.43; 1.47). It is noted that 15% of all excess cases were registered in persons with soft tissue dose above 0.3Gy, though their fraction among all examined persons was only 4.1%. Risk of cataract development significantly increased in exposed individuals with retinal angiosclerosis, diabetes and arterial hypertension.

Peculiarities of the resettlement of the first generation offspring of the exposed Techa River population

The objective of this study was to assess main regularities of resettlement of the first generation offspring of the exposed Techa River population. In the given paper the information on places and periods of residence of the population exposed on the Techa River and their offspring, obtained from the medical-dosimetric database of the URCRM was used. Groups of the first generation offspring of exposed people living at various distances from the Techa River were identified. Main regularities of resettlement of a large group of offspring of the exposed Techa River population (26 300 persons) over the period 1950-2010 were revealed. Chelyabinsk Oblast is the main resettlement area of the first generation offspring of the exposed Techa River population. The proportion of offspring living outside of their primary resettlement area is gradually increasing. Offspring outflow from the Kurgan Oblast is greater than that from the Chelyabinsk Oblast. The main part (45.9%) of the first generation offspring of the exposed Techa River population alive as of 2010 was gathered in cities. Migration of the exposed population promoted increase in the number of marriages between exposed and unexposed persons, to the birth of offspring whose one parent (either mother or father) was exposed and led to decrease in the number of offspring whose both parents were exposed. In the current study for the first time peculiarities of resettlement of two generation of people residing on radioactively-contaminated territories, exposed people and their offspring, were compared. Marked differences in the nature of resettlement of the Techa River exposed population offspring relative to their parents were registered. Offspring migrated more frequently, which is expressed in the increase in their proportion in cities up to 45.9% as compared to that of exposed persons – 30.8% (p<0.001). At the same time the proportion of the first generation offspring of the exposed Techa River population, who reside in Techa riverside settlements, is decreasing as compared to that of the exposed persons. In contrast to first generation offspring alive as of 2010, a bigger part of deceased offspring as of 2010 (30.7%) was registered in Techa riverside villages.

Effect of Floods on Village Spatial Structure and Hierarchy – Hahoe Village, Korea

The development of the spatial structure of a traditional Korean village and its social hierarchy is analysed using a river engineering approach to determine the relevance of river flooding and examine how floods have transformed the landscape around the village. The subject focuses on the village of Hahoe, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in August 2010 for its well-preserved traditional architecture and beautiful natural landscape. The village is located on a small plain surrounded by mountains and within a loop of the serpentine Nakdong River. As a riverside village surrounded by water on three sides, its development is assumed to have been influenced by flooding, but no study has previously investigated the correlation between village development and inundations.

The Meaning of Secure: A Case Study of Wonokromo Kampung, Surabaya

Urban kampung is a product of an uncontrolled development of the city. Along with all the issues contained there in, ho-metown has become its own unique phenomena that characterize the cities in Indonesia. One of the main criteria the needs of the kampungs and settlements housing facilities such as adequate facilities and infrastructure illegally occupy land. This research highlights the defensible space in formal housing in relation to the security aspects. And what about the residential areas built by the people who live in marginal kampung with all its limitations? From these conditions, the need for a study of how people's perception about the meaning of secure in their environment and how they develop defense strategies (defensible space) to meet the security needs of home and environment. The study used the descriptive method of data analysis using both primary and secondary. By taking the marginal kampung location in Wonokromo in Surabaya as a sample, this study tries to reveal how people interpret the marginal kampung security and defense in developing a variety of home and environment. The results of the study revealed that the meaning of safety for people in the riverside village of Surabaya is if they avoid eviction. Certainty is a priority for the people residing along the river Mas / Surabaya than the fear of crime.The results of this study shows a different perspective about the meaning of security in communities of marginal kampung. and survival strategies are developed. Results are expected to enrich the theory of defensible space as well as capable of being a good academic discourse for scholars and policy makers spatial and regional planning.

On the Front Line in Someone Else’s War: Mallakastër, Albania, 1916–18

Albania was not a belligerent in the First World War, but several armies fought, uninvited, on its territory. From 1916 until the final retreat in 1918 the river Vjosa formed the Front Line between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies. Drawing on contemporary documents, this article discusses the consequences for the inhabitants on the right bank, occupied by the Austro-Hungarians. There was only minor fighting on this front line, but it damaged property in villages, and men were taken hostage by the Italians. Inhabitants of the most exposed villages sought shelter elsewhere. Men were pressured into work brigades and the army; many deserted. The presence of large numbers of troops caused serious food shortages. Finally, in midwinter, the army forced the evacuation of all the riverside villages. The occupiers saw the hardship they had caused as an inevitable consequence of war, but failed to recognize their culpability in inflicting it on others.

Environmental modelling of visceral leishmaniasis by susceptibility-mapping using neural networks: a case study in north-western Iran.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a potentially fatal vector-borne zoonotic disease, which has become an increasing public health problem in the north-western part of Iran. This work presents an environmental health modelling approach to map the potential of VL outbreaks in this part of the country. Radial basis functional link networks is used as a data-driven method for predictive mapping of VL in the study area. The high susceptibility areas for VL outbreaks account for 36.3% of the study area and occur mainly in the north (which may affect the neighbouring countries) and South (which is a warning for other provinces in Iran). These parts of the study area have many nomadic, riverside villages. The overall accuracy of the resultant map was 92% in endemic villages. Such susceptibility maps can be used as reconnaissance guides for planning of effective control strategies and identification of possible new VL endemic areas.

Analysis of Hematopoiesis Dynamics in Residents of Techa Riverside Villages Chronically Exposed to Nonuniform Radiation

A profound approach to the analysis of clinical data on the dynamics of major hematopoietic lineages (granulocytopoietic, thrombocytopoietic, and erythrocytopoietic systems) in chronically irradiated humans is proposed. It is based on recently developed mathematical models of these systems in humans, which enable one to study and interpret clinical hematological data. The developed approach is applied to the analysis of statistically processed clinical data, which were obtained under hematological examinations of residents of Techa riverside villages. These people were exposed to chronic irradiation with varying dose rate due to the radioactive contamination of the river basin by the Mayak Production Association. In the course of modeling studies, the relationship between the dynamics of aforementioned systems in examined individuals and the variation of chronic exposure dose rate over the considered period of time is revealed. It is found that the models are capable of reproducing common regularities and peculiarities of the dynamics of systems on hand, including the decreased stationary levels of blood cell concentrations during the period of maximum radiation exposure, the recovery processes during the period of decrease of exposure dose rate, and the prevalence of younger bone marrow granulocytopoietic cells over more mature ones during the entire period. The mechanisms of such effects of chronic irradiation on the hematopoietic lineages are revealed on the basis of modeling studies. All this testifies to the efficiency of employment of the developed models in the analysis, investigation, and prediction of effects of chronic irradiation on human hematopoietic system.

Modeling analysis of the lymphocytopoiesis dynamics in chronically irradiated residents of Techa riverside villages

A biologically motivated dynamical model of the lymphocytopoietic system in irradiated humans is applied here to analyze the data obtained under hematological examinations of residents of Techa riverside villages. Those people were exposed to chronic irradiation with varying dose rates, due to the radioactive contamination of the river basin by the Mayak Production Association. Modeling studies revealed the relationship between the dynamics of the lymphocytopoietic system in the examined individuals and the variation of dose rate over the considered period of time. It is found that the developed model is capable of reproducing the decreased level of blood lymphocyte concentration observed during the period of maximum radiation exposure, the recovery processes in the system observed during the period of decreasing dose rate, as well as the enhanced mitotic activity of bone marrow precursor cells in this hematopoietic lineage observed during the entire period under consideration. Mechanisms of these effects of chronic irradiation on the human lymphocytopoietic system are elucidated based on the applied model. The results obtained demonstrate the efficiency of the developed model in the analysis, investigation, and prediction of effects of chronic irradiation with varying dose rate on the human lymphocytopoietic system. In particular, the developed model can be used for predicting any radiation injury of this vital system in people exposed to chronic irradiation due to environmental radiological events, such as anthropogenic radiation accidents or radiological terroristic attacks.

Construction of “Lo Passador”: A Self-Anchored Suspension Bridge at the Ebro River Delta

The first bridge over Ebro River at its delta was recently constructed, substituting a barge service. The bridge, called “Lo Passador” as homage to the old guiders of the barges, was built in a protected environmental site with great touristic potential, connecting two riverside villages separated by the river. The constructed structure (winner of a design competition) consists of a slender self-anchored suspension bridge of spans 69 + 112 + 69 m, suspended from four parabolic cables through a central web, resembling a sail boat. The web naturally divides the 19,3 m wide cross section into two equal parts, one reserved for vehicles (two lanes) and the other for pedestrians and bicycles, creating a useful path connecting the two villages with amazing views over the river. Slender pseudo-circular piers are used, so that the torsion is directly resisted at the abutments by making use of a torsionally stiff streamlined steel box-girder section. Steel towers were specifically designed shallow in concordance with the shallow fields of the delta surroundings. As a structural consequence, the stress variation in the cables due to live load is minimized, making possible the use of conventional prestressing technology for the cables, which greatly reduces the cost and simplifies the details at the saddles. Selfanchored bridges are usually built over scaffolding, which was not possible over the river. Alternatively, an evolutive construction sequence was used here, including the lifting of a central part from long-stayed cantilevers. The opening of the bridge was eagerly awaited by the citizens of the two villages, and the use of the wide pedestrian path has distinctly changed their relationships.

Joint U.S./Russian Studies of Population Exposures Resulting From Nuclear Production Activities in the Southern Urals

Beginning in 1948, the Soviet Union initiated a program for production of nuclear materials for a weapons program. The first facility for production of plutonium was constructed in the central portion of the country east of the southern Ural Mountains, about halfway between the major industrial cities of Ekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk. The facility, now known as the Mayak Production Association, and its associated town, now known as Ozersk, were built to irradiate uranium in reactors, separate the resulting plutonium in reprocessing plants, and prepare plutonium metal in the metallurgical plant. The rush to production, coupled with inexperience in handling radioactive materials, led to large radiation exposures, not only to the workers in the facilities, but also to the surrounding public. Fuel processing started with no controls on releases, and fuel dissolution and accidents in reactors resulted in release of ~37 PBq of I between 1948 and 1967. Designed disposals of low- and intermediate-level liquid radioactive wastes, and accidental releases via cooling water from tank farms of high-level liquid radioactive wastes into the small Techa River, caused significant contamination and exposures to residents of numerous small riverside villages downstream of the site. Discovery of the magnitude of the aquatic contamination in late 1951 caused revisions to the waste handling regimes, but not before over 200 PBq of radionuclides (with large contributions of Sr and Cs) were released. Liquid wastes were diverted to tiny Lake Karachay (which today holds over 4 EBq); cooling water was stopped in the tank farms. In 1957, one of the tanks in the tank farm overheated and exploded; over 70 PBq, disproportionately Sr, was blown over a large area to the northeast of the site. A large area was contaminated and many villages evacuated. This area today is known as the East Urals Radioactive Trace (EURT). Each of these releases was significant; together they have created a unique group of cohorts with their chronic, low dose-rate radiation exposure. The 26,000 workers at Mayak were highly exposed to external gamma and inhaled plutonium. A cohort of individuals raised as children in Ozersk is under evaluation for their exposures to radioiodine. The Techa River Cohort consists of over 30,000 people who were born before the start of exposure in 1949 and lived along the Techa River. The Techa River Offspring Cohort consists of ~21,000 persons born to one or more exposed parents of this group, many who also lived along the contaminated river. The EURT Cohort consists of ~18,000 people who were evacuated from the EURT soon after the 1957 explosion and another 8,000 who remained. These groups together are the focus of dose reconstruction and epidemiological studies funded by the United States, Russia, and the European Union to address the question, "Are doses delivered at low dose rates as effective in producing health effects as the same doses delivered at high dose rates?"Introduction of Joint U.S. and Russian Studies of Population Exposures (Video 2:13, http://links.lww.com/HP/A28).

Leukaemia incidence in the Techa River Cohort: 1953–2007

Background:Little is known about leukaemia risk following chronic radiation exposures at low dose rates. The Techa River Cohort of individuals residing in riverside villages between 1950 and 1961 when releases from the Mayak plutonium production complex contaminated the river allows quantification of leukaemia risks associated with chronic low-dose-rate internal and external exposures.Methods:Excess relative risk models described the dose–response relationship between radiation dose on the basis of updated dose estimates and the incidence of haematological malignancies ascertained between 1953 and 2007 among 28 223 cohort members, adjusted for attained age, sex, and other factors.Results:Almost half of the 72 leukaemia cases (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)) were estimated to be associated with radiation exposure. These data are consistent with a linear dose response with no evidence of modification. The excess relative risk estimate was 0.22 per 100 mGy. There was no evidence of significant dose effect for CLL or other haematopoietic malignancies.Conclusion:These analyses demonstrate that radiation exposures, similar to those received by populations exposed as a consequence of nuclear accidents, are associated with long-term dose-related increases in leukaemia risks. Using updated dose estimates, the leukaemia risk per unit dose is about half of that based on previous dosimetry.

Reconstruction of Long-lived Radionuclide Intakes for Techa Riverside Residents

Radioactive contamination of the Techa River (Southern Urals, Russia) occurred from 1949-1956 due to routine and accidental releases of liquid radioactive wastes from the Mayak Production Association. The long-lived radionuclides in the releases were Sr and Cs. Contamination of the components of the Techa River system resulted in chronic external and internal exposure of about 30,000 residents of riverside villages. Data on radionuclide intake with diet are used to estimate internal dose in the Techa River Dosimetry System (TRDS), which was elaborated for the assessment of radiogenic risk for Techa Riverside residents. The Sr intake function was recently improved, taking into account the recently available archival data on radionuclide releases and in-depth analysis of the extensive data on Sr measurements in Techa Riverside residents. The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the dietary intake of Cs by Techa Riverside residents. The Cs intake with river water used for drinking was reconstructed on the basis of the Sr intake-function and the concentration ratio Cs-to-Sr in river water. Intake via Cs transfer from floodplain soil to grass and cows' milk was evaluated for the first time. As a result, the maximal Cs intake level was indicated near the site of releases in upper-Techa River settlements (8,000-9,000 kBq). For villages located on the lower Techa River, the Cs intake was significantly less (down to 300 kBq). Cows' milk was the main source of Cs in diet in the upper-Techa River region.

Chronic radiation syndrome among residents of the Techa riverside villages

Presented in the manuscript are the results of an analytic study on the chronic radiation syndrome (CRS) among 940 residents of the Techa riverside villages. The uniqueness of this pathology is associated with the fact that, so far, this clinical entity has mainly been observed among Mayak PA workers and residents of the Techa riverside villages. The analyses of CRS cases identified among a population characterised by significant heterogeneity in terms of age, baseline health status and other radiosensitivity modification factors presents a considerable scientific and practical interest. It has been shown that a long-term total exposure at doses in excess of the threshold organ dose in people causes primarily functional changes (neutropaenia, thrombocytopaenia, vegetative dysfunction and asthenia) which, if the exposure continues, are transformed into organic changes (bone marrow hypoplasia, organic damage to the nervous system). If the dose rate decreases below the threshold, a complete repair of the functional changes is observed, while organic alterations may persist for a long time.