About This Project

The Chernobyl disaster site has hundreds of feral dogs that are in need of care. A team of students from the University of South Carolina will work with an international team of veterinarians and animal welfare groups (CFF+) to gather scientific information concerning the health of these dogs in relation to radiation exposure. The team will spend three weeks in June, 2018, at the Chernobyl animal clinic in Ukraine gathering DNA and other measures of animal health.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

In 1986 the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded and spread vast amounts of radioactivity into the environment. It is considered the largest industrial accident in history. Over 120,000 people from 189 villages were evacuated. Pets were abandoned. Currently, dog populations explode to 1000 or more during the summer months but crash precipitously during the winter because of lack of care and food. An annual spay/neuter/vaccination clinic has been established to help with animal control and to reduce suffering of these animals. These animal control efforts offer a unique opportunity to study the health consequences of exposure to radiation that will be of great scientific interest with potential applications for public health.

What is the significance of this project?

This project will study the health effects of radiation on these animals while simultaneously helping to provide essential animal welfare to stabilize population sizes and reduce long-term suffering. We are working with an international NGO (Clean Futures Fund, CFF+) to provide basic medical services for all dogs in the Zone. The proposed long-term research program will provide much needed scientific evidence as to the effects of radionuclides on animal health and longevity. The opportunity to study these dogs is unique and will generate novel insights that would not be possible for humans or most other animal species. Such knowledge is important for the dogs and other animal life in the zone, but also for the 3500 people who work in Chernobyl every day.

What are the goals of the project?

The next campaign to work with these dogs will be June 1-24, 2018. About 500 dogs will be humanely captured, given a medical exam, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and measured for radioactivity. Our data collection will focus on determining the effects of radiation exposure in dogs in the Zone. This includes examining eyes for cataracts (an early sign of significant radiation exposure), and collecting DNA samples. Each dog will be outfitted with a special radiation dosimeter to assess radiation exposure during the following year. Following the clinic, DNA samples will be brought to the laboratory where students will assess damage to DNA resulting from radiation exposure.