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Chapter in Brief:

The EEIU Moscow Task Force is based at the Laboratory of Radiation Genetics, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics (Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow). The Task Force's main research areas are genetics and radiobiology; investigation of radiation effects in humans, flora and fauna; and monitoring of populations after irradiation. The group includes researchers and young scientists from several institutions and is planning to enlarge in the future. Their Laboratory has wide experience in preparing and realizing various research projects, including international ones.

In addition, the EEIU Moscow Task Force has organized a number of conferences, the last of which, "Genetic Consequences of Emergency Radiation Situations", took place in 2002 with the participation of about 200 leading scientists from Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, Norway and other countries.

The Moscow Task Force is ready for active cooperation!

Officers

Chair: Prof. Vladimir Shevchenko · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow (Deceased)
Secretary: Olga Panouchkina · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow

Members

Kalchenko, Vasily, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Akayeva, Elmira, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Kuznetsova, Galina, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Yelisova, Tatyana, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Jofa, Ella · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Nilova, Irina · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Kostina, Lidia · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Fedotov, Igor, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Abramov, Vladimir, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Igonina, Elena · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Myazin, Andrey · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Kochlova, Natalia, PhD · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Safonov, Alex · Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow
Elakov, Alexandr, PhD · MosSIA "Radon", Moscow
Vorobyova, Nataly · MosSIA "Radon", Moscow

Report, 26 October 2004 (From Prof. Dr. Vladimir Shevchenko, Chair)

EEIU Moscow Task Force began working in May 2003. Our EEIU Moscow Task Force team includes 18 researchers from different Russian Institutes: Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Moscow, Russian Academy of Science (RAS); Russian Research Center of Roentgenoradiology and Radiobiology, Ministry of Health, RF, Moskow; Moskow Science and Production Association 'Radon', Moscow; Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Division of the RAS, Syktyvkar, Russia.

EEIU Moscow Task Force is concerned with two problems:

• Investigation of genetic consequences of the action of radiation after emergency situations in professional workers and in local populations as well as in their children
• Assessment of remote effects of radiation on flora and fauna

The main regions examined in view of the above problems are the zones of the Kyshtym (East Ural Radiactive Ttack, Techa river) and Chernobyl accidents, and the territories adjacent to the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground.

We possess abundant data collected in the course of long-term (several decades) monitoring of irradiated human, flora and fauna populations. Studies of genetic changes occurring as a result of the action of ionizing radiation are carried out permitting an overall assessment of remote genetic processes in exposed organisms.

This year, cytogenetic examinations have been performed involving about 300 Chernobyl liquidators and specialists engaged in atomic industry to estimate their accumulated doses by the method of biological dosimetry. A total of more than 3000 patients have been examined during the period of investigation. Genetic and carcinogenic risks have been assessed on the basis of the results obtained. Moreover, the analysis of polymorphism of hypervariable genome regions has been started using up-to-date molecular-genetic technologies. The analysis of variability of non-coding loci makes it possible to determine the rate of the mutation process in populations exposed to the action of the radiation factor. Due to the use of methods based on PCR, this can be done rapidly and more accurately.

Examination of plant and animal populations inhabiting for a long time the East Ural Radiactive Ttack territory and the 30 km zone around the Chernobyl NPP was continued. As a result of prolonged irradiation, the level of mutagenesis in the exposed populations is higher as compared to the control populations. This increased level of mutagenesis is proportional to the dose rate of chronic irradiation. The possibility of genetic adaptation to the conditions of long-term chronic irradiation in the natural environment is being studied.

This year, the members of EEIU Moscow Task Force participated with plenary presentations in international conferences devoted to:

• human and natural ecology (Ples, Russia);
• ecological monitoring around nuclear power plants (Yerevan, Armenia);
• consequences of the Chernobyl Accident (Kiev, Ukraine).

Actively intruding in Nature and trying to subdue it for their needs, people do not always understand the scope of consequences of their activity and especially the payment to be paid for that by succeeding generations. The study of genetic consequences of such anthropogenic factors as radiation is one of the currently central directions in modern science.

We invite you to join us in our studies. We are interested in sponsorship and joint grants.

Only combined efforts of scientists from different countries will lead to the solution of this important problem!

This page was last updated on 13 April 2006.