The basic directions and results of activities of branch no. 1 of the state research center of the Russian Federation "Biophysics Institute" (FIB-1).

Abstract

During the 1950's, in the early years at the Mayak Production Association (MAYAK) in the Southern Urals, there was a rapid expansion of plutonium output. This was carried out when nuclear technology was still being developed and knowledge of the effects of radiation exposure on humans was not well understood. As result of the discharge of liquid waste into the Techa River, there was large scale overexposure to both the workers at the facility and the population of riverside localities on the Techa River. There were also other environmental discharges, due to an accident and problems of waste storage, which contributed to exposure of other populations around MAYAK. Although all information on the MAYAK operation and its consequences for both workers and population was kept secret, studies on nuclear technology improvement, the handling of radioactive waste, of medical sequence of radiation exposure, radiation safety improvement, and prevention and treatment of radiation injuries were initiated virtually from the onset the of nuclear weapons production program.

• Authors: E R Lubchanskiy, S A Romanov
• Journal: Health physics (Health Phys) Vol. 79 Issue 1 Pg. 9-10 (Jul 2000) ISSN: 0017-9078 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10855772 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Radioactive Waste

Topics

• Academies and Institutes (trends)
• Air Pollution, Radioactive
• Biophysics (trends)
• Humans
• Occupational Exposure
• Radiation
• Radioactive Hazard Release
• Radioactive Waste
• Research
• Russia
• Water Pollution, Radioactive