Legislation in Ukraine about the Radiological Consequences of theChernobyl Accident
Oleg NASVIT
Institute of Hydrobiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
12 pr. Geroev Stalingrada, Kyiv 254210, Ukraine• II stage - guaranteed voluntary resettlement - ispracticed on the territories with cesium deposition
from 5 to 15 Ci/km2, or with strontium from 0.15 to
3 Ci/km2, or with plutonium from 0.01 to 0.1
Ci/km2, where residence of population in existing
conditions can cause additional effective exposure
dose exceeding 1 mSv (0.1 rem) per year, which isdangerous for health".
On these territories it is necessary to apply thesystem of countermeasures to protect population fromradiation (which was considered non-efficient in thefirst part of the Concept, O.N.). Also, some additional
criteria are established there to make decisions on
resettlement. These criteria relate to the possibility ofgrowing radiologically "clean" agricultural products.
A very important aspect of the Concept is thestatement that "after the Chernobyl accident theconditions for the combined effect of radioactive
exposure and factors of non-radioactive origin(synergism) were formed. This greatly increases
negative influences of low radiation doses on the
population health status, especially that of children. In
this situation the extent of synergism is an additional
criteria for making decision on introducing any
counter-radiation measures."On the territories with contamination density ofcesium isotope below 5 Ci/km2, or strontium below
0.15 Ci/km2, or plutonium to 0.01 Ci/km2, residence isallowed only with enhanced control and on a condition
that the additional effective dose from the Chernobyl
accident does not exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem) per year. If
this condition is not observed, the population should begiven the possibility to resettle to radioecologically"clean" areas.
On the whole, the Concept lacks consistent logic
and is even of contradictory nature. At first, it states
low effectiveness of protective measures (though it is
not clear what specific measures are meant) on the
territories with higher levels of contamination. This
provides a basis for psychological orientation toward
resettlement. Then, in the latter part, the necessity ofcountermeasures is proposed on the territories withlower contamination levels, although specialists know
very well that countermeasures are more effective on
the territories with higher contamination levels, i.e.
implementation of ineffective measures is proposed.

1. Principal laws aimed at liquidating theconsequences of the Chernobyl accident
1.1. Basic concept
The description of the Ukrainian system of laws
concerning the problem of the Chernobyl catastropheshould be started from a document of generalcharacter, “Concept of population residence on the
territories of Ukrainian SSR with increased levels ofradioactive contamination as a result of the Chernobyl
accident.” This document, small in volume, wasadopted by the Supreme Soviet of Ukrainian SSR on
February 27, 1991. It was planned that this Concept
would provide decrease of negative influences of theChernobyl accident on public health. Implementationof the principles of the Concept should be based on thefollowing two Ukrainian laws; "On the legal status of
the territory subjected to radioactive contamination asa result of the Chernobyl catastrophe" and "On thestatus and social protection of the citizens who suffered
as a result of the Chernobyl catastrophe."
The main principle of the Concept is as follows:
for the critical group of population - children born in1986 - the effective exposure dose due to theChernobyl accident should not exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem)
per year and 70 mSv (7 rem) for the life period in any
specific environment.
The Concept states that "the situation on thecontaminatedterritories
demonstrates
loweffectiveness of countermeasures aimed at eliminating
harmful effects of radiation on the health of people" ,and, therefore, "evacuation of people from these
territories is of particular importance". In the Concept,
the soil density of radioactive contamination(deposition) is considered to be a temporary (until
individual effective dose is identified) criterion to
make decision on resettlement. As it is impossible toresettle a great number of people simultaneously, theConcept presumes as follows: "a principle ofdifferentiated step-by-step resettlement:• I stage - obligatory resettlement - is practiced on the
territories with cesium deposition above 15 Ci/km2
or above 3 Ci/km2 with strontium deposition, or 0.1
Ci/km2 with plutonium, where residence of people
in excising conditions can cause additional effective
exposure dose exceeding 5 mSv (0.5 rem) per year,
which is dangerous for health.

51

territories subjected to radioactive contamination as aresult of the Chernobyl catastrophe - these are theterritories where "the persistent contamination of theenvironment with radioactive substances exceeding thelevel before the accident...can cause population
irradiation above 1mSv/year...". On these territories
special measures should be introduced in order toprovide radiation protection and normal life activity ofthe population.
Article 2 defines the categories of the zones ofcontaminated territories. Following Table 1 presents
the summary of criteria for identification of zones ofradioactive contamination as a result of the Chernobyl
catastrophe. As it can be easily seen, the zone ofenhanced radioecological control (monitoring),
defined as Zone-4 in Table 1, should not be related tothe territories subjected to radioactive contamination asa result of the Chernobyl catastrophe (see Article 1),
but it is.
The criteria of zones identification are set by the
National Commission of Radiation Protection of
Ukrainian Population (NCRPU). The zone borders are
identified by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
proceeding from the expert conclusions of NCRPU,
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU),
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Chernobyl Affairs,
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Ecological Safety,
State Hydrometeorological Committee, and on the
representation of the Regional deputy councils.
According to the additions to the Law, adopted by
Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) in 1996, nochanges could be done to the zone borders without
approval by Verkhovna Rada.

A similar problem is with synergism. According to
the Concept, the people are totally resettled from theareas with higher contamination levels. Consequently,
synergism should be eliminated on the territories withlower contamination levels. It is recommended to takemeasures to lower exposure doses (which wasconsidered to be ineffective), while nothing is said
about elimination of non-radiation origin factors whichcause synergism, and about improvement of general
ecological conditions of life.

1.2. Basic laws aimed at liquidating the accident
consequences
The Ukrainian Law, "On the legal status of theterritory subjected to radioactive contamination as aresult of the Chernobyl catastrophe" was adopted by
the Supreme Soviet of Ukrainian SSR on the February
27, 1991, and is effective since July 1, 1991. Changes
and additions have been introduced by laws of Ukraine(by Verkhovna Rada, i.e. Ukrainian parliament) of
17.12.91, 01.07.92, 28.04.95, 22.12.95, 17.12.96,
04.04.97; by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine of 26.12.92
This Law is aimed at regulating "problems ofterritories classification by zones in accordance to thelevels of contamination; the regime of territories
utilization and security; conditions of living and workof the population; production, research and other typesof activities in these zones".
This Law consists of 6 chapters:
I. General
II. Legal status of exclusion zone and zone ofobligatory resettlement
III. Legal status of guaranteed voluntary resettlementzone
IV. Legal status of the zone of enhanced
radioecological control
V. Control of the legal status in the zones subjected
to radioactive contamination after the Chernobyl
catastrophe
VI. Liability for the violation of the legal status in thezones subjected to radioactive contamination
after the Chernobyl catastrophe
Article 1 of the Law gives the definition of the

Article 7 of the Law in its initial edition provided
the release from taxation for enterprises, organizations,collective and state farms, located in the zones ofvoluntary guaranteed resettlement and enhanced
radioecological control, except payments to the local
budgets. At the end of 1992 the release from profits tax
was canceled, and from January 1996 the release fromtaxes, customs and excises on imported excisable
goods was canceled.
I cite the next article, as it is of special interest for

Table 1. Criteria for identifying the zones of radioactive contamination
Deposition, Ci/km2
No
Zones
137
90
Cs
Sr
Pu
1
2

Exclusion
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
Obligatory resettlement
>15
>3
>0.1
Guaranteed voluntary
5-15
0.15-30.01-0.1
3
resettlement
Enhanced radioecological
1-5
0.02 - 0.15
0.005-0.01
4
control (monitoring)n.d.: not determined
exclusion zone - the territory from which the people were evacuated in 1986

52

Calculateddose,
mSv⋅y-1n.d.
can exceed 5
can exceed 1
exceeds 0.5

everybody involved in scientific research concerning
Chernobyl:"Article 11. Property on the results ofscientific research, connected with Chernobyl
catastrophe. All scientific information and resultsof research, obtained in the zones of radioactive
contamination, is the property of Ukraine, andcan be used only on the permission of the Cabinetof Ministers of Ukraine"
The Law prescribes limitations of types of
economic activities in the contaminated zones, aiming
at decreasing radiological and other toxic effects on thepeople living and working there, as well as atpreventing radionuclides transport outside the bordersof the zones.
The article on the measures to reduce disease risk isvery important from the point of view of population
protection. In accordance to this article, the state has toguarantee:! annual medical check of the population and earlyprophylactic of diseases;! supply of the population with necessary amount of
medicines, potable water, clean foodstuffs;! provision of gas supply for the settlements,
construction of roads with concrete cover, etc.
Article 21 of the Law identifies responsibilities
among the Ministries and Departments concerning
radiation monitoring and provides the notion about
monitoring structure and location of the data. The
following Table 2 summarizes the contents of Article
21.

effective since July 1 1991. Changes and additions
were introduced by laws of Ukraine (by VerkhovnaRada) of 19.12.91, 01.07.92, 05.05.93, 17.06.93,
06.04.95, 22.12.95, 22.03.96, 06.06.96, 11.12.96,
27.06.97; and decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine of 26.12.92, 26.03.93 and 30.04.93.
"The Law is aimed at protection of the citizens
who suffered as a result of the Chernobyl
catastrophe, and at solving the problems of
medical and social character, which arose as aresult of radioactive contamination of theterritories" (Article 1).
The Law consists of the following 10 Chapters
I. General
II. Status of persons who suffered as a result of theChernobyl catastropheIII. Unified system of registration and medical care forthe persons who suffered as a result of theChernobyl catastrophe
IV. Social protection of the citizens affected by the
Chernobyl catastrophe, general compensations andbenefits
V. Protection of the children who suffered as a resultof the Chernobyl catastrophe
VI. Protection of the population affected by the
Chernobyl catastrophe
VII.Peculiarities of labor regulation for the citizens
who work on the territories with radioactive
contamination.
VIII.Pensions and compensations for the persons
related to categories 1, 2, 3. 4
IX. Public associations of the persons who suffered asa result of the Chernobyl catastrophe
X. Final statement
Article 2 provides the definition of the zones ofradioactive contamination (in fact, it is the same as

The law of Ukraine, "On the status and social
protection of the citizens who suffered as a result of theChernobyl catastrophe" was adopted by the Supreme
Council of Ukraine on February 28, 1991 and isTable 2. Responsibilities among the Ministries and Departments concerning radiation monitoring.
Type of activity and control
Prognostic estimates of the total human irradiation dose and control of
the radiation safety standards
General assessment of radiological situation on the territories of thezones, radioecological monitoring, methodical supervision andcoordination of works on identifying the radiological situation
Control of radioactive contamination levels of:-farmlands-water resources-subsurface waters and minerals-atmosphere on the territory of contaminated settlements-agricultural products and foodstuffs-vehicles and their parts-Household belongings, tools and construction materials during thetransportation outside contaminated areas during evacuation
domestic animals during the evacuation
Control of reliability and objectivity of the data of radiation control
services
Metrology control of radiation control services
Radiation control of the products

53

Responsible Ministries-Ministry of Health-Ministry of Chernobyl Affairs-Ministry of Food and Agriculture-State Water Resources Committee-State Geology Committee-State Hydrometeorological Committee-Ministry of Food and Agriculture-Ministries and committees on transportation means
and Ministry of Internal Affairs-State Sanitary Control-Civil Defense-State Veterinary Control-State Sanitary Control-State Committee of Standard-enterprises, organizations-manufacturers

Commission on Radiological Protection of Ukraine.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is responsible
for the reliability, completeness and timeliness of theinformation on radioactive contamination levels of theenvironment and foodstuffs, as well as for therequirements and conditions of radiation safety.
According to the Law, the people who sufferedfrom the Chernobyl catastrophe include those who
participated in the liquidation of its consequences andresidents, including children, who were affected byirradiation as a result of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
The Law defines 4 categories of the people affected by
the Chernobyl catastrophe (Table 3). The amount of allcompensations and benefits depends on the category of
the person and status of the territory of their residence
and work.
The State should compensate the followings:
1) health damage or loss of working ability of thepeople caused by the Chernobyl catastrophe;2) supporter loss of children if his death is caused by
the Chernobyl catastrophe;
3) material loss of the people and their families causedby the Chernobyl catastrophe.
The State is responsible to provide medical
examination to the people affected by the Chernobyl
catastrophe. Of great importance is the statement in the
Law that "the causal relation between the deteriorationof health status, disease... loss of ability to work of thepeople who suffered from the Chernobyl catastrophe,
and the Chernobyl catastrophe is identified

Article 2 of the previous law), and in Article 3 it isstated that "the condition of living and working without
limitations, considering radiation factor, is additional
irradiation dose which does not exceed 1 mSv peryear". Thus, the contradiction between Articles 1 andArticle 2 of the previous law can be found also in thisLaw. In these Laws it is defined first that thecontaminated territory is the area where additional
irradiation due to the accident can be over 1 mSv per
year, and then, when the contaminated zones are
identified, the territories are included where thisadditional irradiation dose is less than 1 mSv, e.g. from
0.5 mSv and more.
Further, the Law sets limitations for entering in theradioactively contaminated territories for permanent
residence, and states necessary and sufficientconditions for resettlement of the people. In particular,
the right for self-resettlement (before the conditions forresettlement are ready) is given to the people whose
individual effective dose exceeds 70 mSv for life
period, in reality, only to those who received this doseby the present time because there is no method of dose
prognosis confirmed by competent authorities. A very
important, but also a very disputable statement is that"the population in the zone of obligatory resettlement is
to be resettled without fail."
The Law defines that the values of acceptable levelsof radionuclides content in foodstuffs and agricultural
products are approved and putted into practice by the
Health Ministry of Ukraine on approval of the National

Table 3. Definition of categories of people who suffered from the Chernobyl catastrophe
Categories
Description
Invalids, belonging to liquidators and affected residents, for whom the causal relation between their
I
II

III

IV

disability and the Chernobyl catastrophe was proved;
Persons who got radiation syndrome as a result of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Liquidators who worked in the exclusion zone:- since the accident to July, 1, 1986: independently of length of working days;- since July,1, 1986 to December, 31, 1986: not less than 5 days;- in 1987: not less than 14 days;
Affected residents:- evacuated from the exclusion zone in 1986;- permanently lived in the zone of obligatory resettlement since the accident to the moment of adoption of thedecree on resettlement.
Liquidators who worked:- in the exclusion zone since July,1, 1986 to December, 31, 1986: from 1 to 5 days;- in the exclusion zone in 1987: from 1 to 14 days;- in the exclusion zone in 1988-1990: not less than 30 days;- on sanitary treatment of people and decontamination of equipment or on construction of these stations;
Affected residents (not referred to category II), who:
- permanently lived on the territory of zones of obligatory resettlement and guarantee voluntary resettlementon the day of accident, or by the January, 1, 1993, provided that they spent not less than two years in the zoneof obligatory resettlement, or three years in the zone of guarantee voluntary resettlement, and were resettled
from these territories;- permanently living, or permanently working, or permanently studying in the zones of obligatory
resettlement and guarantee voluntary resettlement, provided that by January, 1, 1993 they spent not less than
two years in the zone of obligatory resettlement, or three years in the zone of guarantee voluntary
resettlement.
Affected residents who permanently living, or permanently working, or permanently studying in the zone ofenhanced radioecological control (monitoring), provided that by January, 1, 1993 they spent not less than 4
years in this zone.

54

Rather strange is the statement in the Law that "thesalary of the workers on enterprises, organizations andinstitutions, who work on the construction of theobjects within the program of the liquidation of theChernobyl accident consequences, should be 20%
above the standard rate."
The Law provides the definition of the children
considered as affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe
and identifies the following benefits andcompensations for such children and their parents: total
state insurance of the children before they reach schoolage; annual free treatment in sanatoriums and resorts
for the period to 2 months; increase of the salary for
one of the parents; prolonged maternity leave forwomen who suffered as a result of the Chernobyl
catastrophe - 180 paid days, etc.
The expenses related to the implementation of thisLaw are financed from the State budget. The Cabinet of
Ministers of Ukraine is responsible for the clarificationof the scheme of Law implementation.

(independently of whether the dosimetry results areavailable or not) unless the authorized medical
institution confirms the absence of such relation".
"For the purpose of effective fulfillment of the taskof medical and social care of the citizens who sufferedfrom the Chernobyl catastrophe, the State Register of
Ukraine (general information system) is organized. It
includes sociological, dosimetry and medical
sub-registers". The basic task of the register is "tocontrol health status, and to study immediate andremote medical consequences" of the affected people.
Organs of the state administration, executive
committees of the local councils, and socialorganizations should send complete information about
the affected people to the State Register of Ukraine.
Confidentiality of the information in the register isguaranteed.
Medical supplies and equipment, imported on the
territories of radioactive contamination, are exempt
from customs and tax.
Further in the Law, compensations and benefits are
specified for the citizens who suffered as a result of theChernobyl catastrophe. The list of all the benefits andcompensations occupies 11 pages. Benefits andcompensations can be both of single-time character,e.g. free supply with dwellings and compensation of
the lost property (houses, vehicles, domestic animals
and fruit plants), as well as of permanent character, e.g.
free medicines, free treatment in sanatoriums, additions
to the salary, additional payment for enhanced foot,increased pensions, free use of city transport, andearlier retirement age.
The Law states that the citizens who suffered as aresult of the Chernobyl catastrophe have advantage inapplying to job and advantage in preserving theirworking places during reduction of staffs onenterprises and organizations. This creates conflictsituations, as it causes the dissatisfaction and anger ofmore experienced and qualified workers. The Law
declares that the local councils should allocate 15% of
all built dwellings annually in order to provide for the
benefits envisaged by the Law. This situation also
creates a basis for conflict, because, despite theallocation of special funds, the queue of those waitingfor dwelling is very long.

2. Laws and regulations of Ukraine on radiation
protection
The legislation of Ukraine on radiation protectionof people consists of the following laws: "On radiation
protection of people" (being considered by the
Parliament), "On radioactive wastes disposal", "On
the use of nuclear energy and radiation safety", as wellas other legal documents.

2.1. Laws and regulations on dose limits.
The basic document on radiation protection on the
territory of the former USSR is the Standards ofRadiation Safety SRS-76/87 (Нормы радиационной
безопасности НРБ-76/87), which are still effective in
Ukraine until new national norms are adopted.
According to this document, three categories ofirradiated persons are identified:• Category A, staff - persons directly working with thesources of ionizing radiation (SIR)• Category B, certain part of population - persons who
are not working directly with SIR, but by living
conditions (this made essential difference with theinternational standards !!!) or by the location ofworking places may be affected by radioactive
substances or other SIR.
Table 4. Dose limits for total (internal and external) irradiation•
CategoryC,
population(mSv⋅⋅y-1)
population of the country, region,
Category of irradiated persons
etc.
Dose limitsA
BC
For category A and B, dose limits
Effective dose limit
20*
2
1
are identified to be 50 mSv per year
Equivalent dose limits:and 5 mSv per year, respectively. For
category C, however, dose limit is notfor crystalline lens
150
15
15
determined, but there is only afor skin500
50
50
requirementfor
implementing
for hands and feet
500
50
Remark: * - in average for any 5 consecutive years, but not more than 50 measures to restrict irradiation of
population. In a case of radiation
mSv for separate year.
55

accident, "depending on the scale Table 5. Local control levels of 137Cs concentration in food andand character of an accident, the agricultural products brought into use in different regions since 1994,
Ministry of Health can establish Bq/l, Bq/kg.
temporary dose limits andRegions
Foodstuff
permissiblelevelsforthe
Kyiv
Volyn’
Zhytomyrpopulation".
1. Drinking water
4
4
The Law of Ukraine, "On 2. Milk
74
74
74
radiation protection of people" 3. Different milk products
74-14874
75(still being considered at the 4. Milk powder
185
Parliament) defines dose limits for 5. Pork, beef, mutton, poultry
74-148276
740
categories A and B to be 50 mSv 6. Fish
185-296296
and 5 mSv per year, respectively. 7. Potato
60
The same law establishes dose 8. Root vegetables
60
limit for category C (population) - 9. Leafy vegetables, fruits, berries
60
185"on the condition of normal 10. Bread, grain products
185
operation of nuclear installations 11. Mushrooms fresh
740
740
and sources of ionizing radiation", 12.
dry
1850
1850
effective dose should not exceed 1 13. Eggs
74
296
mSv per year. "Real or expected 14. Infants foodstuff
37
doses of irradiation for individualsof any critical group should not
Table 6. Values of acceptable levels for 137Cs and 90Sr in foodstuff andexceed the determined dose limits,
potable water (AL-97), Bq/kg, Bq/l.
independently on the number of
137
90
Cs
Sr
Name of the productpathways for the formation of this
1.
Bread
and
bread
products
20
5dose."
60
20
In 1997 the Ministry of Health 2. Potato
3.
Vegetables(root,
leafy)
40
20
of Ukraine adopted new Standards
70
10of Radiation Safety of Ukraine 4. Fruits
5.
Meat
and
meat
products
200
20
SRSU-97, mainly based on
6.
Fish
and
fish
products
150
35
international safety standards (1).
100
20This document presents a different 7. Milk and milk products
8.
Eggs
(per
piece)
62
definition for category B of
*)
9.
Water
2
2
irradiated persons: “category B,
300
60
staff - persons, which are not 10. Milk concentrate11.
Milk
powder500
100
working directly with the SIR, but
500
50
by the location of working places 12. Fresh wild berries and mushrooms
13.
Dried
wild
berriesandmushrooms
2500
250
may be affected by radioactive
600
200
substancesor
other
SIR”. 14. Drug plants
15.
Others600
200
SRSU-97 will be introduced into
Special infants foodstuff
40
5practice from 1998. The following 16.
*)
Remark:
4
Bq/l
until
01.01.1999
Table 4 presents main dose limits
established by SRSU-97.
determined, taking into account existing ratios ofradionuclides in water and air.
2.2. Laws and regulations on radioactivity levels
In Ukraine there are no standards for radionuclides
of food, water and air.
content in the air for the category C. After the
For the category B, the permissible concentrations
Chernobyl accident in accordance with Sovietof radionuclides (PCB) in water and air are presented inregulations the Ministry of Health of the USSR defined
the Standards of Radiation Safety (Table 8.1 ofin 1986, 1988 and 1991 the tentative acceptable levels
SRS-76/87). Its values were calculated with the(TAL) for radionuclides in foodstuff and potable water.
assumption that if a person constantly inhales air withIn 1993 the National Commission on Radiologicalradionuclide concentration equal to PCB, or if a person
Protection of Ukraine issued the TAL-93 document.
constantly consumes water with radionuclide
But, since different Ukrainian Ministries did not comeconcentration equal to PCB, then human irradiation
to an agreement about the figures of this document, it
dose will be 5 mSv per year from each radionuclide of
was not approved by the Ministry of Health. So,
either route of intake (inhalation or ingestion). In
TAL-91 continued to be actual in Ukraine up to 1997.
certain situations that persons receive irradiation from
The main problem of TAL-93 was groundlessness ofboth pathways, derived permissible levels should be
its figures. Since 1994, however, local authorities of56

According to the monitoring data, the level ofirradiation dose of about 50% of all settlements does
not correspond to their present status (relation to theirzones).
What is very impotent in the present situation is tostop compulsory resettlement (senseless after 11 years
have gone since the accident) and drive resources to thereconstruction of people’s life on the contaminatedterritories. It is necessary to stop to pay compensations
for production of radioactively contaminated foodproducts and introduce a system of benefits to those,
who produce pure products on contaminatedterritories.
These elements of new approach to the Chernobyl
problem as well as many others are presented in the
new “Concept of protection of population inconnection with the Chernobyl catastrophe”
elaborated together by MinChernobyl and NCRPU.
This document was submitted to the Cabinet of
Ministers and approved by it in Autumn 1997. It is
expected that on approval of Verkhovna Rada it will
become a new basis for reviewing of the Chernobyl
Laws.
2. Laws and regulations of Ukraine on radiation
protection are on the way to meet international basic
safety standards. But there is no experience in theworld of dealing with the consequences (especiallylong-term ones) of such a wide-scale radiation
catastrophe. Taking into account that a certain part of
the Ukrainian population have to live permanently on
the radioactively contaminated territories, thecontamination on this territories is not considered as
accidental (people can not live permanently in
accidental conditions), but rather as environmental
factor like natural radioactivity. This provides
somewhat different approach to setting acceptablelevels of radionuclides in foodstuff and explains thedifferences in figures between AL-97 and international
recommendations (2).

the contaminated regions brought into use local control
levels (LCL) of radionuclides in food and agricultural
products, mainly based on the TAL-93 figures, andalso taking into account local conditions (Table 5).
According to local laws, exceeding of LCL is a subjectof investigation and, if necessary, elaboration andimplementation of countermeasures. In fact, only
several percents of products, obtained from collective
farms, exceeded LCL values in 1995-1996. In private
sector of agriculture, however, this happens more
often.
In 1997 the Ukrainian Ministry of Health approved
acceptable levels for 137Cs and 90Sr in foodstuff andpotable water (AL-97). This document will be
introduced into practice from January 1, 1998. If aperson of critical groups constantly consumes areference ration composed of all products containing
137
Cs and 90Sr at the levels presented in Table 6, he will
receive 1 mSv per year separately from 137Cs and 90Sr.
A product is considered to be accepted for
consumption if the sum of ratios of actual
concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr to their acceptablelevels dose not exceed 1. Introduction of AL-97
provides guarantee that annual individual effective
dose of internal irradiation due to consumption of foodproducts does not exceed 1 mSv for any person.

Final remarks.
1. The system of Chernobyl Laws in Ukrainereflects rather good intentions of Ukrainian authorities
to help the people who suffered from the Chernobyl
catastrophe,thanscientificallyjustifiedrecommendations. Firstly (in 1991) it was planned toreceive funds for implementation of the Laws from thebudget of the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union
decay it was found that the Laws were overloaded withsocial payments and compensations and became
impracticable taking into account the state of economy
of independent Ukraine. Annual income to theChernobyl fund is about 70-80% of what is prescribedby the Laws for their implementation.
A number of changes and additions to the Laws
reflects the special attention to the Chernobyl problem
of Verkhovna Rada deputies and public in general.
This is being exploited by politicians, and Chernobyl
issues became the field of political struggle between
pragmatists and populists. In this situation, radiologicalaspects of the problem stepped aside.
Radiological survey system in Ukraine provides
necessary information on annual doses to population ofeach settlement on the contaminated territories.
Despite of clearly observed reduction of doses on mostterritories, allocation of settlements to the categories ofcontaminated zones has not been reviewed since 1991.

Literature
1. International basic safety standards for protection
against ionizing radiation and for the safety ofradiation sources. - Vienna : International Atomic
Energy Agency, 1996. - (Safety series, №115.
Safety standards). - STI/PUB/996. - 354 P.
2. Derived intervention levels for radionuclides infood. Guidelines for application after widespreadradioactive contamination resulting from a majorradiation accident. World Health Organization.
Geneva, - 1988. - 60 P.

57