Nuclear Power Are the benefits worth the risks?

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Nuclear Disaster: Chernobyl Location and Date: Nuclear event that took place: The Evacuation: The Clean-up: Human Impacts: Environmental Impacts: Chernobyl Today: Could it Happen Again?

The Chernobyl Accident

Where is Chernobyl? -In Northern Ukraine -10 miles away from Belarus -80 miles North of Kiev

What happened? Saturday, April 26, 1986: -A nuclear reactor exploded…

190 tons of highly radioactive uranium and graphite were expelled into the atmosphere through a radioactive fire that burned for 10 days. Radioactive material was carried by the wind and rain into large areas of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. The result was an international ecological, medical, and economic calamity.

Evacuation - Following the accident hundreds of thousands of people had to be evacuated and between 1990 and 1995 an additional 210,000 people were resettled.

West and Northwest Winds carried radiation

“Liquidators” –These were firemen who helped put out the fires and helped clean up the radiation –Most did not realize the dangers of radiation. –Many later died from radiation, because they didn’t wear protection. –An estimated 8,000-20,000 to date have died (20% from suicide) Robots –United States supplied –Specifically designed to enter reactor core and help build the sarcophagus The Clean Up

Medical Impact * Over 70% of the radiation fell on the people of Belarus. They have been exposed to radioactivity 90 times greater than that released by the Hiroshima bomb – the highest known exposure to radiation in the history of the atomic age.

Medical Impact (cont.) * Kofi Annan, Secretary General for the United Nations, said in 2001 that the legacy of Chernobyl will be with us, and our descendants, for generations to come. At least 3 million children require physical treatment, and not until 2016 will we know the full medical impact.

Effects of Radiation

The Chernobyl disaster on the health of their people: Children were much more affected by Chernobyl and the radiation, due to their weaker immune systems. –100% increase in the incidence of cancer and leukemia –250% increase in birth deformities –1,000% increase in suicide in the contaminated zones

–“Chernobyl AIDS”--the term doctors are using to describe illnesses associated with the damage done to the immune system.

Environmental Impact * Almost 400,000 people – environmental refugees have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the explosion. * Over 2,000 towns and villages were bulldozed to the ground following the accident.

Other problems… Food & Water –Milk—Farmers have to watch the radiation level in milk. –Fish—Cannot be eaten, as water absorbs radiation and fats concentrate it –Radioactive Floods every spring Many animals are dying as well from the radiation Lives ruined –Suicide and depression –Even healthy people were traumatized

* 25% of prime Belarussian farmland and forests will remain dangerously contaminated for the next 25,000 years. * The food and water supply is continually contaminated by rainfall and the movement of radioactive dust. * 25% of prime Belarussian farmland and forests will remain dangerously contaminated for the next 25,000 years. * The food and water supply is continually contaminated by rainfall and the movement of radioactive dust. * 97% of the radioactive material from the Chernobyl plant remains inside the crumbling sarcophagus. * According to a 2003 report by the Russian Atomic Energy Minister, Alexander Rumyantsev, "the concrete shell surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor is in real danger of collapsing at any time."

Living in the contaminated zone in Belarus today… People must change their clothes twice a day, and may not walk in the woods for more than two hours a month. Radiation level charts are printed in the newspapers and dictate decisions such as whether children can be allowed out to play. People are told to wash food at least five times in clean water, but nobody is told where this clean water is to be found. Most people find it impossible to follow these nearly impossible instructions, so they simply give up trying. There are also housing shortages in Belarus and the rest of the ex-Soviet Union. This is a problem because people have a hard time moving out of the contaminated zone, since there are no other places to live.

Chernobyl Today The plant has been shut down by Ukraine. (Dec. 2000) The cement sarcophagus build to contain spreading is falling apart, due to the quick emergency construction of it. The UN estimates that up to 9 million people have been affected directly or indirectly by the fallout. The full consequences will not be seen for at least another 50 years.

Could it happen again?

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