научная статья по теме ГРИГОРЬЕВ Ю.Г., УШАКОВ И.Б., КРАСАВИН Е.А., ДАВЫДОВ Б.И., ШАФИРКИН А.В. КОСМИЧЕСКАЯ РАДИОБИОЛОГИЯ ЗА 55 ЛЕТ. М.: ЭКОНОМИКА, 2013. 301 С Биология

Текст научной статьи на тему «ГРИГОРЬЕВ Ю.Г., УШАКОВ И.Б., КРАСАВИН Е.А., ДАВЫДОВ Б.И., ШАФИРКИН А.В. КОСМИЧЕСКАЯ РАДИОБИОЛОГИЯ ЗА 55 ЛЕТ. М.: ЭКОНОМИКА, 2013. 301 С»

РАДИАЦИОННАЯ БИОЛОГИЯ. РАДИОЭКОЛОГИЯ, 2014, том 54, № 3, с. 335-336

РЕЦЕНЗИИ

Григорьев Ю.Г., Ушаков И.Б., Красавин Е.А., Давыдов Б.И., Шафиркин А.В. КОСМИЧЕСКАЯ РАДИОБИОЛОГИЯ ЗА 55 ЛЕТ. М.: Экономика, 2013. 301 с.

DOI: 10.7868/S0869803114030096

I have received the chance to review "Space radiobiolo-gy during 55 years" written by a team of the most respected Russian radiobiologists. The book is dedicated to 50th anniversary of the State scientific center Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS.

It is necessary to start the review with a general statement that this book represents a synthesis of history of development of Soviet/Russian space program as well as the development of space radiobiology. The authors demonstrated that the origination and development of space radio-biology is tightly connected with the development and realization of the Soviet space program. Since the first page, the book explained that such development is a product of cooperation between a number of scientific research entities and military organization. The list of such institutions is too long to be a subject of this review.

The space radiobiology had been conducted both in the scientific laboratories on the land and the space ships. Of course, first decade was the time of research in the laboratories with the purpose to establish the level of damages that might occur in simple and complex living systems — from experiments with microorganisms and plants to experiments with dogs.

The biology has been developed with coordination with space physics. It is now obvious that sending living creatures in flight around Earth or even outside the atmosphere these organisms will be exposed to serious radiation load. Yes, we know this now, but 50 years ago it was more guess than real knowledge. Actually, I would like to see in this book more about physics, and especially the notes about the contribution in this direction of genius Russian scientists K.E. Tzi-olkovskii and L.I. Chizevskii. It is even more important knowing that in space flights the protective role of ionosphere is diminished and the radiation safety of "space travelers" became complicated.

The authors correctly pointed that even now, despite all achievements of the Soviet/Russian space radiobiology, a number of problems still exist or need further clarification, for example investigation of prolonged exposure to small doses of ionizing radiation, search for the most effective protection of the "space travelers", effects of heavy particles on brain. In that line, synthesis of effective radio protectors is important in sense of individual protection of the voyagers.

It should be noted that the efforts of pioneers and their followers very quickly had led to creation of Space Radiobiology as independent scientific discipline, which integrated the knowledge and experience of thousand engineers, physicists, biologists, mathematicians, technologists. This allows conductance of experiments oriented first to establishment of threshold level of high and low doses of ionizing radiation with Earth and space origin, and second —

creation of protective gears to secure safety of living organisms sent into Space flights.

Every information obtained during such investigations was based upon the knowledge established by classical radiobiology that was further applied for the complicated condition of space.

For the reader familiar with the development of Soviet/Russian space program and basic radiobiology is real pleasure to read for contribution of space and biology scientists, and to see photos from the early days. By the way, the photos in the book represent separate treasure and would stay in entire their importance in this book, which represent a serious historical document. On the same issue, I would like to stress that the book describe in detail various steps in the pioneering years of space radiobiology and one should wonder how well the authors remember and write for these historical days. For example, on page 23 the reader may see the cover of the book "Combined effects in ecology of man and extreme medicine".

It is shown that in the beginning of "space era" soviet military radiobiologists built the background of space radio-biology. It is well demonstrated the important role of the Institute of Biophysics at Ministry of health in securing the radiation safety of the flight of Yuri Gagarin. For example, at page 69 the reader may see the cover of the book "Problems of safety in space flights".

It is well shown that the first series of radiobiological research in near space had been performed with the use of meteorological balloons and ballistic muscles. Logically, the authors moved to the biological researches performed into space satellites. First, the spacecrafts were caring dosimetric equipment that in real time provides information of radiation burden in different parts of the spacecraft when passing in different by physical nature radiation conditions. Reasonably, after that the biological effects were evaluated with simple and complex organisms such as microorganisms, seeds of high plants and various animals. The list of evaluated parameters is too long to be listed here. All of them, however, had contributed in creation of models for sending humans in space starting with 108 min flight of Yuri Gagarin to today flights that continue for months.

Authors explained how much information was received by the organisms of first two high organisms that travelled in space — Belka and Strelka. The well planed flights protected dogs from radiation damage. It was further proven with prolonged flights of other two dogs, \fcterok and Ugolek. Detailed analysis of blood parameters of the animals had served very well in planning of man spaceflights.

The book demonstrated that soviet radiobiologists investigated the action of ionizing radiation in parallel with other physical factors, such as vibrations, acceleration, lack of gravity. It is well describe the flight experiment on the satellite "Cosmos-690" where together with animals, also a

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source of gamma-radiation was installed. This allowed to evaluate the modification in the radiation disease by lack of gravity during 22-days flight and after returning to the planet. In my view also is important to note the experiments related to evaluation of the radiobiological effect by changing air composition. It is very informative to read about experiments during the space flight directed to assessment of the interactions of heavy ions with biological materials. I was very much impressed by reading about the 14-years experiment with prolonged exposure of large groups of dogs (exposed to ionizing radiation for 3 and 6 years). Since 1966 this provides extraordinary information for long lasting effects of ionizing radiation on complex organisms.

All the investigations in that direction, step by step enhance the knowledge necessary to prepare astronauts for long lasting spaceflights around the Earth, but create the background for sending human being to other planets.

Special attention is paid to international cooperation in development of space radiobiology and especially to partnership between soviet and American radiobiologists in preparation of the join project Soyus-Appolo. The period of the early 1970s significantly advanced the understanding the radiation sources and the distribution of the radiation in space. This was especially important in prognosis of solar

disturbances, as well as the occurrence of other disturbances and to secure appropriate protection of the astronauts.

Interesting from the view point of history and scientific development is Chapter 3 that started with the decision of creation in 1963 Institute of Space Biology, which further (in 1965) became Institute of Biomedical Problems RAS. I personally was impressed reading on page 75 the problems investigated by the biological department of this institute. Further, the reader may see the covers of "Radiation Risk on the Earth and in the Space" and "Space Radiobiology". These two books in great extent describe the results of research in the space radiobiology.

Last, but not least, very important is the chapter that describes the model for accelerated aging of animals as result of irradiation.

In conclusion, I would like to recommend to the readers of "Radiation Biology and Radiation Ecology" not only to read, but to purchase this book and keep in their own library as a valuable source of scientific information.

Marko Markov Research International Williamsville NY 14221 msmarkov@aol.com

РАДИАЦИОННАЯ БИОЛОГИЯ. РАДИОЭКОЛОГИЯ том 54 № 3 2014

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