Almost four decades after the 1986 nuclear disaster, dogs living in the Chernobyl exclusion zone exhibit a unique genetic phenomenon: unusual resistance to cancer and enhanced cellular mechanisms to survive one of the most radioactive environments on the planet.

The study, published in the Science Advances journal and led by Gabriella J. Spatola and Timothy A. Mousseau, analyzed 302 blood samples from dogs inhabiting three distinct regions: the nuclear plant, the city of Chernobyl (15 km from the epicenter), and Slavutych (45 km from the accident site).

Heritage and Isolation

After the reactor 4 explosion on April 26, 1986, over 2,600 km² were contaminated by materials such as cesium-137 and iodine-131, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people and leaving behind numerous domestic animals. With no constant human presence, these dogs formed populations that coexist with wolves, wild boars, and horses.

Genetic analysis revealed 15 lineages, with influences from breeds like German Shepherd, Boxer, and Rottweiler. Dogs near the plant have low genetic diversity, a result of few founding individuals, while those from Slavutych show traits of modern domestic breeds, possibly introduced recently.

Evolution under Radiation

Instead of the random mutations typical of intense radiation exposure, scientists found specific alterations in over 390 genome regions, related to advanced DNA repair and strengthened immune system.

These changes suggest that natural selection favored animals more resistant to cellular degradation and cancer. Previous research on wolves in the region, led by Cara Love, had already identified similar patterns of oncological resistance.

Potential for the Future

The results have direct implications for:

• Oncology: development of new cancer prevention and treatment strategies;
• Environmental Health: understanding survival mechanisms in contaminated areas;
• Space Exploration: preparing astronauts for extended missions in hostile environments, such as Mars.

Researchers plan to expand the studies to evaluate the dogs' immune system, the presence of parasites, and possible epigenetic effects — changes in gene expression caused by environmental factors.

Today, these dogs survive among abandoned buildings and rusty rails, feeding on leftovers left by occasional visitors. More than mere survivors, they have become living symbols of adaptation and scientific hope. Research focused on hemp shows that the plant can help in soil decontamination.

Hemp Can Be an Ally in Chernobyl's Soil Decontamination

While recent studies reveal that dogs from the exclusion zone have developed unusual genetic resistance to radiation, another environmental recovery strategy may also gain prominence: the use of hemp for phytoremediation, a technique that employs plants to remove contaminants from the soil.

The idea is not new. In 1999, the American biotechnology company Phytotech, in partnership with the Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, planted hemp in areas near the plant to assess its ability to absorb radioactive elements like cesium-137. The experiment showed that the plant was able to extract about 1% of the cesium present in the soil. Although the rate may seem modest, experts considered the result promising, especially when combined with other environmental recovery methods.

Hemp has unique advantages: it grows quickly, has deep roots capable of reaching contaminated layers, and can be cultivated without pesticides. In Chernobyl, the fiber obtained was deemed clean, but the contaminated parts were incinerated in a sealed system, retaining the radioactive ashes.

Similar experiments have taken place elsewhere in the world. In Spain, residents of Palomares proposed using hemp to remove plutonium left from a nuclear bomb accident in 1966. In Italy, farmers in the city of Taranto use the plant to extract heavy metals from soil affected by the steel industry, while also driving a hemp-based production chain.

In the United States, tests in Pennsylvania proved that hemp can clean soils contaminated by coal mine residues without compromising the safety of the cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from the plant, pointing to a dual potential: decontamination and safe production for medicinal use.

Experts believe that hemp could be reintroduced in the Chernobyl exclusion zone as part of an environmental restoration program, helping to reduce the presence of heavy metals and radioactive isotopes, while new technologies and genetic studies on local animals advance.

Bottom Line: Text inspired by articles from O Globo, DefesaNet, and The Green Hub.