![\"Chernobyl](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171618\/Figure-1_Chernobyl_nuclear_plant2.jpg\")
Figure 1. Today, Reactor #4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is encased in a sarcophagus to help contain radioactive material.On April 26, 1986, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant\u2019s fourth reactor exploded during a mandatory test, releasing large amounts of <\/span>radioactive<\/span><\/a> material into the <\/span>atmosphere<\/span><\/a> (Figure 1). An unexpected power surge led to a \u201cbreak in one of the reactors, causing air to reach the <\/span>graphite moderator<\/span><\/a>, resulting in the ignition of the entire reactor\u201d.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span> This resulted in a radioactive jet emission of <\/span>Iodine-131<\/span><\/a>, followed by <\/span>Cesium-137<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span> Most of the <\/span>fallout<\/span><\/a> occurred in what was at the time the western edge of the USSR and central Europe (Figure 2). The amount of radiation released during the Chernobyl meltdown was \u201c100 times as much radiation as the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs together\u201d.<\/span>3<\/sup><\/span> This new radioactive area was subsequently referred to as \u201cthe zone\u201d.<\/span>\n[caption id=\"attachment_114\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"970\"] One effect of the fallout was how it affected the plant and animal life in the surrounding area. Without animals to <\/span>pollinate<\/span><\/a> flowers and disperse seeds through fruit consumption, plant communities suffer. A study conducted in 2012 examined which pollinating butterflies and bumblebees were dispersed throughout the vicinity of Chernobyl.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span> The study compared radiation with pollinator abundance in the ecosystem and findings suggest that in areas with greater amounts of radiation, fruit trees (i.e. apple, pear, rowan, wild rose, and European cranberry bush) produced less fruits.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span> It was also observed that the trees located in areas with higher radiation were significantly smaller than those in areas with lesser radiation.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span>\n Another study introduced mice into the environment for varied time periods.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> The study found, that at the cellular level, these mice had mutations and disorders caused from the lingering radiation.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> The mice also had an increase in their radiosensitivty.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> The Chernobyl disaster occurred nearly 25 years prior to this study. <\/span>The effects of nuclear radiation on plant and animal life are troubling especially considering these effects will continue to be observed for thousands of years.<\/p>\n One of the most mysterious and unexplained aftermaths of the Chernobyl disaster was the increase in the amount of grey wolves living in and around \u201cthe zone\u201d. Speculation arose that the leftover radioactive material was poisoning the nearly 300 wolves as well as other wildlife species living in the area. In the Public Broadcasting Service\u2019s (PBS) documentary, \u201cRadioactive Wolves\u201d (2011), two German scientists studied moose bones that remained after wolf predation. On average, the bones that were examined contained fifty times the normal amount of radioactive material.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span> This finding suggests that the radioactive remains of the Chernobyl reactor meltdown were poisoning the grey wolves\u2019 diets. The scientists were concerned and continued trapping wolves for study, searching for more information. After months of research, the scientists discovered that the wolves were healthy and prosperous.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span> One explanation of this phenomenon could be that as more wolf cubs were born into \u201cthe zone,\u201d they became better adapted to the radioactive material.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span>\n[caption id=\"attachment_115\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] Humans were also greatly affected by the Chernobyl incident. In one study, \u201cresearchers have described isolated peaks in the prevalence of congenital malformations in the cohort conceived immediately after the onset of fallout\u201d.<\/span>7<\/sup><\/span> Researchers discovered that many babies born within 9 months of the incident experienced <\/span>birth defect<\/span><\/a>s<\/span> (Figure 4).<\/span>7<\/sup><\/span> The most affected demographic were young children due to their mothers being exposed to the radioactive material from the nuclear power plant during pregnancy.<\/span>8<\/sup><\/span> One of the most common conditions that appeared was <\/span>thyroid cancer<\/span><\/a> (Figure 5). Psychological problems were also prevalent in displaced people (Figure 4).<\/span>9<\/sup><\/span> Stress was one of these psychological problems and led to increased rates of suicide, alcoholism, and smoking.<\/span>9<\/sup><\/span>\n [caption id=\"attachment_116\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1024\"] The city of Pripyat prior to the reactor explosion was home to 49,400 people. The levels of radiation were so high in the area surrounding the power plant that it became completely unlivable. Within a few days the entire population was forced to relocate.<\/span>10 <\/sup><\/span>Pripyat is now a ghost town. People still cannot live near Chernobyl and will not be able to settle the area for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n In conclusion, the Chernobyl disaster altered the lives of many different animals, plants, and humans living in the area. Although, some animals in the area are thriving, primarily the grey wolf, the delicate balance of the ecosystem will forever be marred by the radioactive material. The disaster serves as a grim reminder of the terrible effects that radiation can have on human populations. May the abandoned city of Pripyat always serve as a reminder of the consequences of a nuclear disaster.<\/p>\n Figure 1. Today, Reactor #4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is encased in a sarcophagus to help contain radioactive material. On April 26, 1986, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant\u2019s fourth reactor exploded during a mandatory test, releasing large amounts of <\/span>radioactive<\/span><\/a> material into the <\/span>atmosphere<\/span><\/a> (Figure 1). An unexpected power surge led to a \u201cbreak in one of the reactors, causing air to reach the <\/span>graphite moderator<\/span><\/a>, resulting in the ignition of the entire reactor\u201d.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/span> This resulted in a radioactive jet emission of <\/span>Iodine-131<\/span><\/a>, followed by <\/span>Cesium-137<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>2<\/sup><\/span> Most of the <\/span>fallout<\/span><\/a> occurred in what was at the time the western edge of the USSR and central Europe (Figure 2). The amount of radiation released during the Chernobyl meltdown was \u201c100 times as much radiation as the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs together\u201d.<\/span>3<\/sup><\/span> This new radioactive area was subsequently referred to as \u201cthe zone\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Figure 2. Radioactive fallout was carried by the prevailing winds into Belarus and Russia. This map describes the level of Cesium-137 radioactivity as of 2006. One effect of the fallout was how it affected the plant and animal life in the surrounding area. Without animals to <\/span>pollinate<\/span><\/a> flowers and disperse seeds through fruit consumption, plant communities suffer. A study conducted in 2012 examined which pollinating butterflies and bumblebees were dispersed throughout the vicinity of Chernobyl.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span> The study compared radiation with pollinator abundance in the ecosystem and findings suggest that in areas with greater amounts of radiation, fruit trees (i.e. apple, pear, rowan, wild rose, and European cranberry bush) produced less fruits.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/span> It was also observed that the trees located in areas with higher radiation were significantly smaller than those in areas with lesser radiation.<\/span>4<\/span>\n<\/p>\n Another study introduced mice into the environment for varied time periods.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> The study found, that at the cellular level, these mice had mutations and disorders caused from the lingering radiation.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> The mice also had an increase in their radiosensitivty.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/span> The Chernobyl disaster occurred nearly 25 years prior to this study. <\/span>The effects of nuclear radiation on plant and animal life are troubling especially considering these effects will continue to be observed for thousands of years.<\/p>\n One of the most mysterious and unexplained aftermaths of the Chernobyl disaster was the increase in the amount of grey wolves living in and around \u201cthe zone\u201d. Speculation arose that the leftover radioactive material was poisoning the nearly 300 wolves as well as other wildlife species living in the area. In the Public Broadcasting Service\u2019s (PBS) documentary, \u201cRadioactive Wolves\u201d (2011), two German scientists studied moose bones that remained after wolf predation. On average, the bones that were examined contained fifty times the normal amount of radioactive material.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span> This finding suggests that the radioactive remains of the Chernobyl reactor meltdown were poisoning the grey wolves\u2019 diets. The scientists were concerned and continued trapping wolves for study, searching for more information. After months of research, the scientists discovered that the wolves were healthy and prosperous.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/span> One explanation of this phenomenon could be that as more wolf cubs were born into \u201cthe zone,\u201d they became better adapted to the radioactive material.<\/span>6<\/span><\/p>\n Figure 3. Research conducted on the Eurasian Wolf (Canis lupus lupus) around Chernobyl has found that the population is thriving despite living with high levels of radiation. Humans were also greatly affected by the Chernobyl incident. In one study, \u201cresearchers have described isolated peaks in the prevalence of congenital malformations in the cohort conceived immediately after the onset of fallout\u201d.<\/span>7<\/sup><\/span> Researchers discovered that many babies born within 9 months of the incident experienced <\/span>birth defect<\/span><\/a>s<\/span> (Figure 4).<\/span>7<\/sup><\/span> The most affected demographic were young children due to their mothers being exposed to the radioactive material from the nuclear power plant during pregnancy.<\/span>8<\/sup><\/span> One of the most common conditions that appeared was <\/span>thyroid cancer<\/span><\/a> (Figure 5). Psychological problems were also prevalent in displaced people (Figure 4).<\/span>9<\/sup><\/span> Stress was one of these psychological problems and led to increased rates of suicide, alcoholism, and smoking.<\/span>9<\/span>\n<\/p>\n Figure 4. Health Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident in the first 15 Years. Figure 5. Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in Belarus after the Chernobyl Disaster. The city of Pripyat prior to the reactor explosion was home to 49,400 people. The levels of radiation were so high in the area surrounding the power plant that it became completely unlivable. Within a few days the entire population was forced to relocate.<\/span>10 <\/sup><\/span>Pripyat is now a ghost town. People still cannot live near Chernobyl and will not be able to settle the area for hundreds of years.<\/p>\n In conclusion, the Chernobyl disaster altered the lives of many different animals, plants, and humans living in the area. Although, some animals in the area are thriving, primarily the grey wolf, the delicate balance of the ecosystem will forever be marred by the radioactive material. The disaster serves as a grim reminder of the terrible effects that radiation can have on human populations. May the abandoned city of Pripyat always serve as a reminder of the consequences of a nuclear disaster.<\/p>\n![\"Radioactivity](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171622\/Figure-2_1024px-Chernobyl_radiation_map_1996.svg_.png\")
Figure 2. Radioactive fallout was carried by the prevailing winds into Belarus and Russia. This map describes the level of Cesium-137 radioactivity as of 2006.
\nCourtesy of CIA Factbook, 1996. CC BY-SA 2.5.[\/caption]\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171626\/Wolf_610.jpg\")
Figure 3. Research conducted on the Eurasian Wolf (Canis lupus lupus) around Chernobyl has found that the population is thriving despite living with high levels of radiation.
\nPhotograph by Gunnar Ries, 2007. CC BY-SA 2.5.[\/caption]\n![\"Chernobyl](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171629\/Cher-Figure-4.jpg\")
Figure 4. Health Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident in the first 15 Years.
\nData adapted from D. Williams, 2002.[\/caption][caption id=\"attachment_117\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"836\"]![\"Radiation](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3396\/2018\/07\/24171632\/Figure-5_Belarus_radioactivity_and_thyroid_cancer.jpg\")
Figure 5. Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in Belarus after the Chernobyl Disaster.
\nAfter the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, rates of thyroid cancer increased within exposed communities.
\nYellow: Adults (19\u201334),
\nBlue: Adolescents (15\u201318),
\nRed: Children (0\u201314)
\nCourtesy of Ceiocaciaca. Public Domain.[\/caption]\n
\nReferences<\/h4>\n
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Jace A. Ball<\/h2>\n
The meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is one of the worst environmental disasters to befall humanity. The disaster negatively altered animal, plant and human life in the area. However one species, the grey wolf, is now thriving in the remains of the Chernobyl site.<\/h5>\n
<\/p>\n
\nPhotograph by Tiia Monto, 2013. CC BY-SA 3.0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nCourtesy of CIA Factbook, 1996. CC BY-SA 2.5.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nPhotograph by Gunnar Ries, 2007. CC BY-SA 2.5.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nData adapted from D. Williams, 2002.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nAfter the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, rates of thyroid cancer increased within exposed communities.
\nYellow: Adults (19\u201334),
\nBlue: Adolescents (15\u201318),
\nRed: Children (0\u201314)
\nCourtesy of Ceiocaciaca. Public Domain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nReferences<\/h4>\n
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