Birds Adapting to Radiation From Chernobyl – Study RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 28.04.2014 Birds in regions impacted by radiation from the Chernobyl disaster are adapting to ionizing radiation exposure and might even benefit from it, a new study published in the British Ecological Society's journal Functional Ecology has revealed. “The overall pattern indicates that birds are not negatively affected by chronic exposure to radiation and may even obtain beneficial hormetic effects following an adaptive response,” the study says. “Previous studies of wildlife at Chernobyl showed that chronic radiation exposure depleted antioxidants and increased oxidative damage. We found the opposite – that antioxidant levels increased and oxidative stress decreased with increasing background radiation,” the author of the study Dr Ismael Galva'n said. According to the study, birds have the capacity to adapt to chronic exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation, though this capacity varies across species. The scientists found a pattern completely different from previous studies in wild populations. The study is also the first evidence of adaptation to ionizing radiation in wild animals. On April 26, 1986, a nuclear reactor exploded at the Chernobyl power plant, affecting the lives of millions of people. A vast area estimated at 50 thousand square kilometers, mainly in the three then-Soviet republics of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia was contaminated by the fallout from the critical nuclear meltdown. Some 200,000 people were relocated after the accident. Topics: Ukraine Other news: Hungary Enacts Law to Expand Nuclear Power With Russian Aid Hungary’s president has signed a bill into law to expand a nuclear power plant in the country with Russian assistance. Hungary Lawmakers OK Russia Nuclear Plant Deal Russia will provide Hungary a loan of up to 10 billion euros ($13.5 billion) - around 80 percent of construction costs. Russia to Lend Hungary $13.7Bln for Nuclear Plant The deal was announced during a state visit to Moscow by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and was hailed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. |
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