The Chernobyl Disaster in Ukraine has been referred to as the biggest environmental disaster since the burning of coal at Bhopal. This extremely well-publicized event occurred shortly after the first reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded in Pripyat.
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The Chernobyl Disaster: Nuclear Accident on Saturday 26 April 1986 in Pripyat, Ukraine
The heat generated from the nuclear fuel rods in these reactors ignited the uranium fuel and melted the lead within the walls. In turn, this sparked a chain reaction that released massive amounts of radioactive contaminants into the environment, leading to an estimated 90% mortality rate for those living near the explosion zone.
The United States Geological Survey conducted various tests in the aftermath of the accident to measure radiation levels around the region. At the time, they estimated that there were over 10 million curies of radiation released into the environment.
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These reports were collected by experts from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Russia, and these experts were well-known radiation exposure specialists. While these estimates were incredibly precise, the situation could have been drastically different if more of these professionals had come forward at the time. The doctors in the U.S. had ordered patients to evacuate the area immediately, and their work rules would have prohibited them from returning to the site.
To their great regret, many people chose to stay behind when the widespread radiation began to spread throughout the towns. Many of the workers came home in search of alcohol and prostitutes to numb the pain and shock of radiation poisoning. Many of these individuals survived for days, but some were able to return to the city only to succumb to radiation poisoning.
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In hindsight, it is clear that the Chernobyl Disaster was a very real and ecological disaster. The deaths could have been much worse if the evacuation orders had been followed, as it is believed that thousands more may have died if the limits on drinking water and food consumption had been strictly adhered to.
However, the nuclear power plant did not collapse on its own. Other countries were forced to pay to keep the plant up and running. It is likely that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would have lost many of its agents and board members if not for the sudden rise in the demand for Chernobyl Expeditions.
radiation poisoning | Chernobyl Disaster | environmental disaster
