Scientists in Ukraine have been carefully measuring radiation levels in 23 towns that were affected by the Chornobyl accident. From 2012 to 2024, they tested residents’ bodies, food, and soil to see how much radiation exposure people were getting. The good news: radiation levels keep dropping over time. However, people in some areas are still getting radiation mainly from eating contaminated food, especially mushrooms and milk from local sources. The study shows that most areas are now below the safety limit, but continued monitoring of food and water is important to keep people safe.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much radiation people living in areas affected by the Chornobyl accident are exposed to, and where that radiation is coming from (food, soil, or air).
  • Who participated: Residents of 23 towns in three regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Rivne) that had the highest radiation contamination after the Chornobyl accident.
  • Key finding: Radiation exposure from eating contaminated food is slowly decreasing, and most areas now have radiation levels below the official safety limit of 1 millisievert per year. However, some areas in Zhytomyr region reached 1.04 millisieverts in 2024, slightly above the limit.
  • What it means for you: If you live in these affected areas, radiation exposure is generally decreasing and becoming safer over time. However, you should be careful about eating mushrooms and dairy products from local sources, as these foods can contain more radiation. This doesn’t mean you need to panic—just be aware and follow local food safety guidelines.

The Research Details

Researchers selected 23 towns in Ukraine that were most affected by the Chornobyl accident. Every three years from 2012 to 2024, they conducted comprehensive radiation monitoring. This involved testing residents’ bodies using special equipment to measure internal radiation exposure, collecting food samples to test for radioactive elements (cesium-137 and strontium-90), measuring radiation in the environment, and asking residents about their eating habits.

The scientists used three main methods to gather information: dosimetry (measuring radiation doses), radiochemistry (testing food and soil samples), and mathematical analysis (calculating exposure levels). They tracked the same towns over many years to see how radiation levels changed over time.

This type of long-term monitoring study is valuable because it shows real-world patterns in how radiation exposure changes in communities, rather than just taking a single snapshot in time.

This research approach is important because it tracks actual people in real communities over 12 years, showing whether radiation exposure is truly getting safer. By repeatedly measuring the same towns, scientists can see seasonal patterns (like higher radiation in certain times of year) and understand which foods are the biggest sources of radiation exposure. This helps governments make better decisions about food safety and public health protection.

Strengths: The study tracked the same communities over 12 years, which is a long time period that shows real trends. Researchers used multiple measurement methods (body scans, food testing, and environmental monitoring) to get a complete picture. Limitations: The study focused only on 23 towns in Ukraine, so results may not apply to other affected areas. The exact number of individual residents tested is not clearly stated. The study is observational rather than experimental, so it shows what happened but cannot prove cause-and-effect relationships.

What the Results Show

The main finding is that radiation exposure from eating contaminated food is continuing to decrease across all three regions studied. In 2022, Kyiv region residents received 0.50 millisieverts per year, in 2023 Rivne region residents received 0.67 millisieverts, and in 2024 Zhytomyr region residents received 1.04 millisieverts. These numbers represent the total radiation dose people received, mostly from eating contaminated food rather than from radiation in the air or soil.

The primary source of internal radiation exposure is cesium-137, a radioactive element that enters the food chain. The biggest dietary sources are milk from local dairy farms and forest products, especially mushrooms. In the Polissia region (which includes these affected areas), mushrooms are a traditional and important part of the local diet, making them a significant source of radiation exposure.

While radiation levels are decreasing overall, the study found unstable seasonal patterns throughout the year. This means radiation exposure varies depending on the season, likely because people eat different foods at different times of year (for example, more mushrooms in fall).

The good news is that most areas are now below the official safety limit of 1 millisievert per year. However, Zhytomyr region slightly exceeded this limit in 2024, indicating that continued monitoring is necessary.

The study found that external radiation exposure (from radiation in the environment) is much less important than internal exposure (from eating contaminated food). This means that simply being outdoors in these areas is relatively safe; the main risk comes from consuming locally-produced food. The research also showed that purchased food from commercial sources (stores) had lower radiation levels than food from personal gardens and local sources, suggesting that commercial food distribution networks provide safer options.

This research continues a long-term monitoring program that has tracked these communities since shortly after the Chornobyl accident. The findings confirm what previous studies suggested: radiation exposure is gradually decreasing over time as radioactive elements naturally decay and are removed from the environment. However, the pace of decrease is slower than some earlier predictions, and certain areas remain closer to safety limits than others.

The study measured radiation in 23 towns but did not clearly specify how many individual residents were tested. Results apply specifically to these Ukrainian communities and may not represent other Chornobyl-affected areas in Belarus or Russia. The study is observational, meaning it documents what happened but cannot prove that specific foods definitely caused specific radiation exposures in individuals. Seasonal variations were noted but not fully explained. The study does not include information about how radiation exposure affects actual health outcomes in these populations.

The Bottom Line

If you live in affected areas of Ukraine: (1) Limit consumption of locally-harvested mushrooms and wild forest products, as these tend to have higher radiation levels. (2) Consider purchasing dairy products from commercial sources rather than local farms when possible. (3) Continue to follow local food safety guidelines and radiation monitoring updates from health authorities. (4) Maintain awareness of seasonal patterns—radiation exposure may be higher at certain times of year. Confidence level: Moderate to High, based on 12 years of consistent monitoring data.

This research is most relevant to people living in the three affected regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Rivne). It’s also important for government health officials, food safety regulators, and public health organizations in Ukraine and other countries affected by Chornobyl. People living in other parts of Ukraine or other countries should be aware of these findings but do not need to make immediate changes. This research is less relevant to people living far from Chornobyl-affected areas.

Radiation exposure has been decreasing gradually over the past 12 years and is expected to continue decreasing slowly over the coming decades. Cesium-137 (the main radioactive element in this study) has a half-life of 30 years, meaning it takes 30 years for the amount to decrease by half. Therefore, significant improvements in radiation safety will take many years. However, the current trend is positive, and most areas are already at or near safe levels.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you live in affected areas, track your consumption of locally-sourced mushrooms and dairy products weekly. Note the source (local farm, forest-harvested, or commercial store) and quantity consumed. This helps identify which foods contribute most to your radiation exposure.
  • Replace 50% of locally-sourced mushrooms and dairy products with commercially-purchased alternatives from established food networks. Start by substituting one meal per week that contains local mushrooms or dairy with store-bought versions, then gradually increase the substitution rate.
  • Set monthly reminders to review local radiation monitoring reports from health authorities. Track any changes in official safety recommendations for your area. If you have access to body radiation testing (whole-body counter scans), schedule testing annually to monitor your personal radiation exposure levels over time.

This research describes radiation monitoring in specific areas of Ukraine affected by the Chornobyl accident and is not medical advice. Radiation exposure levels and safety recommendations may vary by location and change over time. Residents of affected areas should follow guidance from local health authorities and official government agencies regarding food safety and radiation protection. If you have concerns about radiation exposure or health effects, consult with a qualified healthcare provider. This summary is for informational purposes and should not replace official public health guidance or medical consultation.