The Department of Environment Radiation Monitoring
E-mail: glaptev@uhmi.org.ua
Head of department: Oleg Voitsehovyich
The Department of Environment Radiation Monitoring (DERM) within UHMI was established after Chernobyl accident in 1986 and was involved
in performing research works directly connected with the liquidation of this massive disaster at the national and international level.
Diverse research in which DERM was involved dealt with the study of the behaviour of radioactive substances in the water bodies and soil,
ecological state of the Cooling Pond of CHNPP, transformation of the physical and chemical forms of radionuclides, simulation of wash-off
from natural catchment using GIS technique, phyto-rehabilitation of contaminated territories, etc.
In the late 90s DERM began active phase of cooperation with IAEA on marine radioactivity issues, which determined the lab to be one
of the key partner of the IAEA in Ukraine. The laboratory was invited to participate in studies of radio-ecological status
of the Black and Caspian seas by the IAEA and GEF/BSERP.
IAEA technical cooperation program helped to installation in the laboratory modern equipment including gamma-spectrometric analysis,
liquid-scintillation spectrometry and diverse range of laboratory facilities.
Nowadays the key directions of the DERM activities are focused on the methods for effective aerosol, soil and water sampling programs designs,
developing strategies for observational network as an element of accidental preparedness for potential releases from the Nuclear Power Plants,
developing methods and networks for site specific environmental monitoring at the Uranium production legacy sites and corresponding methods
for analytical measurements of the environmental samples with wide spectra of artificial and natural radionuclides.
The DERM of UHMI has an extended experience in the management and implementation of large number of national and international
(EU, IAEA, TACIS, UNDP, GEF) projects that have been implemented in Ukraine, EU and also in the former Soviet Union.
The department has qualified staff who are experienced also in specific research programs implementations, studying radionuclide transfer processes
and its dispersion via atmospheric pathways, migration in soils and in the aquatic systems. Staff memebers of DERM UHMI have been regularly
trained under fellowship programs in the key analytical Centres of EU and USA
DERM UHMI now is one of the most qualified analytical laboratory in Ukraine, which playing significant role as a methodological centre,
supporting radiation monitoring networks in the countries and, which can transfer also the gained experience to train
other laboratories including fellows from other countries.
Modern tasks of laboratory are next:
- Methodical support of observations formed environmental radiation monitoring network
- Mastering and adapting modern methods of controlling the content of radioactive substances in the environment
- Participation in complex monitoring programs for enterprises class NORM
- Participation in programs of study of the geophysical processes and climate using isotope markers
LIST OF EQUIPMENT USED BY DERM UHMI
|