[On the mechanism of evolution at the ecosystem level of life organization].

Just like the studies of species adaptations phenomenology do not reveal the mechanism of a new species adaptation emerging (speciation), so the enormous bulk of data on phenomenology of ecosystem processes, collected to date, does not disclose the mechanism of evolution at the ecosystem level of living matter organization. An attempt is made to mark out, among the whole variety of evolutionary events in ecosystem form of life, those components attributable to rnicroevolution (by analogy with successful studies of 1940s applied to population-species form of life). It is assumed that at the ecosystem level biogeocenosis (BGC) should be designated as an elementary evolutionary structure, alteration of a BGC species composition ­ as an elementary evolutionary event, gene pool of a species population (cenogenome) ­ as elementary evolutionary material, and natural group (cenogenetic) selection ­ as a directed elementary evolutionary factor. An origin of a new or destruction of an old BGC turns out to be a qualitative stage of microevolutionary process at the ecosystem level.

[Comparative evaluation of the prevalence of congenital malformations de novo in newborns from radiation-contaminated territories of the Bryansk region (1999-2014)].

On the basis of official statistics for 1999-2014 there was performed the comparative evaluation of the prevalence of congenital malformations de novo: polydactyly, reduction limb defects and multiple congenital malformations in newborns of radiation-contaminated areas of the Bryansk area residing in areas with the various density of radioactive contamination by long lived radionuclides cesium-137 (from 10.0 to 2523.4 kBq/m) and strontium-90 (from 0.7 to 42.5 kBq/m). The findings showed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of polydactyly, reduction limb defects and multiple congenital malformations in newborns in the South-Western areas compared to medium regional values, although the maximum value of the amount of congenital malformations de novo is found in most radiation-contaminated areas.

[The Buccal Epithelium as Environmental Indicator].

The use of the buccal mucosa cell micronucleus test for comparison of chemical, radiation, and radiation-chemical environmental pollution has been considered. The combined impact of chemical and radiation factors has been found to cause additive effects, synergism, and inhibition. It has been noted that the cytogenetic characteristics of the buccal epithelium may be used as a "biological dosimeter" of the total level of environmental pollution.

Radioactive waste disposal in seas adjacent to the territory of the Russian Federation.

The former USSR illegally dumped into the ocean liquid and solid radioactive wastes (RW) originating from nuclear-powered vessels and ships. The Russian President created a special Commission to analyse both the scale and consequences of this activity. According to documentary data and expert estimates at the Commission's disposal, the maximum activity of RW that entered the seas adjacent to Russian territory could have been as much as 2,500 kCi at the time of disposal. The greatest radio-ecological hazard comes from reactors from nuclear submarines and core plates of the nuclear icebreaker 'Lenin', which had spent nuclear fuel in place and which were dumped in shallow water in the Kara Sea near Novaya Zemlya. Editor's note: This article extracts material from a Commission which published a report produced in Russia in 1993. Numerous sources in many Ministries and other government agencies, noted in the text, formed the basis for the final draft. The authors of the draft report were A. Yablokov, V. Karasev, V. Rumyantsev, M. Kokeev, O. Petrov, V. Lystsov, A. Yemelyanenkov and P. Rubtsov. After approving the draft report, the Commission submitted the report to the President of the Russian Federation in February 1993. By Presidential decision, this report (after several technical corrections) was open to the public: it is known variously as 'the Yablokov Commission report, or more simply the 'Yablokov Report', the 'White Book' or 'Yablokov White Paper'. During April-May 1993, 500 copies were distributed among governmental agencies inside Russia, and abroad through a net of Russian Embassies. This article was later sent to Dr Mike Champ as part of the ongoing collections of papers on the Arctic published in this journal (edited by Champ et al.: 1997 'Contaminants in the Arctic', Marine Pollution Bulletin 35, pp. 203-385 and in Marine Pollution Bulletin 2000, vol. 40, pp. 801-868, and continued with the present collection).