Chernobyl Research Initiative

Since 1998, USC has sponsored research related to the long term ecological and health consequences of the radioactive contaminants that were dispersed over vast expanses of Europe in 1986. This research is important for the understanding of long term consequences of radiation for ecosystem and human health and will be instrumental in predicting the environmental half-lives of these contaminants. This research is also of significance for hazard assessment related to industrial, military, or terrorist nuclear incidents, and the effects of mutagens on evolutionary responses of natural populations.