The Effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident
More than 30 years ago, the world learned about the nuclear devastating disaster that occurred in Chernobyl in 1986 and put extreme efforts to combat the accident consequences. Severe explosion with subsequent emission of dangerous radioactive substances into the environment put the world on the edge of severe nuclear catastrophe that could jeopardize not only neighboring countries but also the entire Europe. Although a significant period of time has passed since that tragic date, the Chernobyl issue remains a huge global health and environmental concern for many countries, particularly the affected ones, due to the destructive immediate and distant effects of the radiation released into the surroundings https://bestessayservice.org/expository-essay-writing-service/
The 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident became the most severe and ‘the worst nuclear disaster’ in the history of the commercial nuclear industry that has ever happened in the world. This technological catastrophe attained the highest hazard rate due to the involvement of core meltdown. According to the scientific evaluation of engineering deficiencies in the reactor construction, inappropriate and insufficient safety culture as well as consequent erroneous actions of the staff are the primary causes of the tragedy. A series of explosions at Chernobyl nuclear power plant entailed extensive fire with a serious damage of the Unit 4, a complete nuclear reactor destruction, massive radioactive explosions, uncontrolled release of radioactive materials into the environment, and a significant radioactive contamination of the adjoined and closely-located territories. Various world organizations such as United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, World Nuclear Association, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as local and world official authorities conducted diverse research and multiple sophisticated studies evaluating the effects of the Chernobyl accident and considering the scale of damage. The research affirmed that the aforementioned failure caused severe deleterious health-related, psychological, environmental, social, and economic consequences.
The Chernobyl disaster is responsible for death from acute radiation sickness and huge radioactive exposure of the rescue crew and the nuclear power plant workers who were at the epicenter of the explosion putting extraordinary efforts to decrease radiation flow and released the fire. Throughout the accident liquidation, ‘a total of 127 reactor workers, firemen and emergency personnel’ sustained either fatal doses of radiation or extensive ones sufficient for developing radiation sickness. Furthermore, the Chernobyl breakdown eventually increased the number of acute leukemia in the clean-up and recovery workers due to the long-lasting injurious radiation exposure.
The civilians of Chernobyl and adjoining Pripyat were exposed to large quantities of released radioactive iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-137 in the first days after the accident, which subsequently caused short-term moderate and long-term significant health implications. Radioactive isotope, iodine-131, despite its short life, caused a substantial increase of thyroid cancers, particularly in children and adolescences, due to the consumption of contaminated milk. Approximately ‘6000 thyroid cancer cases were detected’ among the children from the affected areas; eventually 15 children and teenagers died from it by 2005. The major portion of the reported clinical cases was effectively treated. Numerous investigations and studies concerning the Chernobyl aftermath made the researchers adhere to the opinion that ‘there is no scientific evidence’ of overall cancer incidence or mortality raise or non-malignant disorders, congenital malformations and increased infertility cases due to radiation exposure except for thyroid cancer incidences. However, such statements remain controversial and thus require deep and sophisticated research. Simultaneously, they specify that psychological distress due to abrupt and unexpected evacuation and resettlement became the major health consequence for the civilians. Therefore, this part of population experienced deep depression and long-lasting anxiety due to the misperceptions regarding the radiation exposure, potential threats, and a lack of trustworthy information. They acquired erroneous victimized behavioral patterns that also deteriorated their health condition.
Alternative sources assert that ‘measurable cognitive and neuropsychiatric effects of radiation exposure’ were revealed in highly affected liquidators. People involved in recovery operations acquired high doses of radiation that, consequently, caused depressive and psychosomatic disorders, accelerated aging, and inclination to suicide. Thus, the Chernobyl accident affected mental health of adults, particularly the liquidators and women with young children, who became extremely preoccupied with health complications after radiation exposure.
The nuclear reactor explosion as well as the rapid nuclear cloud formation and its further spread with air masses transformed the unique nature into a zone of ecological catastrophe. One hundred kilometers area around Chernobyl turned into so-called ‘zone of alienation’ unsuitable for normal human functioning and living. A considerable amount of radioactive materials discharged from the exploded reactor and long-lasting radioactive fire resulted in a substantial contamination of the land. It particularly relates to the current territories of Ukraine, Belorus, and Russia though it also harmed certain areas of Europe.
The Chernobyl accident affected agricultural section due to the severe contamination of the crops, milk, and meat with radioactive iodine, strontium, cesium, and plutonium. The area currently known as ‘Red Forest’ located in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant suffered from the ‘high radiation levels’ due to the radioactive fire. It became a clear evidence of the immediate nature impact by radioactive release. The environmental pollution with high levels of radioactive cesium, strontium, and iodine damaged woodland products and aquatic systems. Increased radioactivity level, high concentration of radionuclides in the water bodies caused the contamination of a considerable amount of fish. However, radiation exposure to the contaminated products and objects declined and keeps on decreasing upon radioactive material migration into the soil and their forthcoming decay.
The reviewed nuclear disaster seriously impinged flora and fauna of the contaminated regions where a high level of mortality, decreased reproduction, and substantial genetic abnormalities in plants and animals were initially reported. However, further gradual physical decay of radionuclides, weathering, and radioactive species’ migration down the soil led to the measurable reduction in the radiation transfer to animals and plants that consequently induced renovations and recovery of nature and the eco-system in general.
The elimination of nuclear hazard at site, construction of protective concrete shelters, further building of a protective sarcophagus, used fuel and waste storage units with further decommissioning of the rest of power plant units required significant investments. Thus, the Chernobyl accident became a heavy economic burden for the ex-Soviet republics. Relative safety would not have been achieved without a considerable financial assistance and sponsorship from the European and American governments and international organizations. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant complete shutdown occurred due to the ‘combined effort of the world’s seven largest economies, the European Commission and Ukraine’.
Furthermore, because of the accident, considerable areas of farmlands were removed from production that incurred serious losses in the agricultural field. Such areas of economy as timber production, cattle industry, and food production also suffered from financial losses.
The described accident provoked severe social consequences considering that more than 350 000 people were enforced to leave their homes and habitual lifestyle being evacuated. The first 115 000 people were evacuated from ‘the most heavily contaminated areas in 1986, and another 220 000 people ‘left their houses in subsequent years. Unexpected evacuation and resettlement of people turned to be a traumatic event in their lives to the extent that not all of them could successfully adapt to new conditions.
In conclusion, there are no doubts that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident had severe destructive and deleterious consequences. The discussed technological failure entailed human casualties, fatal cases due to acute radiation sickness, and thyroid cancers and leukemia. It provoked significant contamination of the farmlands, forests, and aquatic system. A considerable release of highly radioactive materials into the atmosphere had a harmful impact on human health and nature as well. Furthermore, the reviewed breakdown incurred substantial economic losses and financial expenses required for the eradication of the accident aftermath and social support programs.