As a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a considerable portion of Ukrainian territory was radioactively contaminated. This included the Chernigov Region, which was the subject of our most extensive survey. This region aroused particular interest because of the patchy nature of its contamination. A survey was carried out in the Priluki, Bakhmach, Borzna, Varva, Srebnoe, Ichnya and Talalaevka districts (southern districts), as well as a follow-up survey in the Chernigov, Kozelsk, Koryukovka and Semenovka districts of the Chernigov Region directly adjoining the 30 km zone. The radioecological investigations mainly involved: (1) measurement of the exposure rate in the territory of settlements in the districts studied; (2) measurement of the exposure rate and beta contamination on the premises of public buildings in settlements in the districts studied; (3) soil sampling and laboratory testing of specimens for radionuclide content; (4) measurement of radiation burdens in a number of the settlements located within the strictly controlled area.
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