The research interests of the Laboratory of Nuclear Geophysics and Radioecology are related to two research trends: (1) assessment of significant past and present environmental changes and (2) investigation of environmental radioactivity and radioecology.
According to the first research trend, laboratory researchers focus on the accurate and precise nuclear dating methods and stable isotope analysis that can be effectively applied to environmental archives and used in estimating the rates of the dynamics of environmental processes and material source tracing. A combination of various dating techniques – dendrochronology, fallout radionuclides, including Pb-210 dating with Cs-137 and Am-241 as chronomarkers, and radiocarbon (C-14) dating supported by carbon stable isotopes (C-13/C-12) data – is being used, depending on environmental archive, time range, and research task.
According to the second research trend, researchers analyze the distribution and transport of artificial and natural radionuclides (H-3, C-14, Sr-90, Cs-137, Be-7, Pb-210, Pb-214, etc.) in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems attributed to the main nuclear objects of the region, namely nuclear power plants and radioactive waste storage facilities. Applications based on experimental nuclear and radiochemical methods and numerical modelling aim at understanding radionuclide bioavailability patterns, transport parameters, the main exposure pathways and assessment of exposure risks to humans and biota.
