CHERNOBYL DISASTERApril 26, 1986

Where did it take place??

Cherynobyl, Ukraine

What happened?

1. The reactor went out of control during testing.

2. This led to an explosion and fire.

3. Radiation was released into the atmosphere.

4. The uranium fuel overheated and melted barriers, allowing radioactive elements to be released.

5. Graphite blocks caught fire which also released radioactive materials.

Pripyat (49,360 people) were evacuated almost immediately. Approximately 200,000 were eventually relocated.

• At least 1800 cases of thyroid cancer in people who were children at the time of the explosion.

• Psychological effects include an increased amount of • Suicide• Drinking problems• Apathy

Health issues

Over 100 radioactive elements were released in the explosion.

The most dangerous elements were Iodine (8 days) Strontium-90 (29 years) Caesium-137 (30 years)

Radiation spread out over 150,000 km

• These can lead to cancer and damages the liver & spleen.

Radioactive Stuff

A 30 km circle around the plant, known as the exclusion zone can not be lived in.

Who Cleaned up the mess?

Emergency workers were called “liquidators”.

They came from many parts of the former Soviet Union

They established new towns, built waste repositories and the “sarcophagus”

Who else was affected?

Countries:SwedenFinlandUkraineBelarusRussian Federation

NaturePlant & animal deformities

Identify weaknesses of reactors

Improve design safety Upgrades performed Increase safety awareness

How do we keep this from happening again?

This accident was 400 times stronger than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagysaka.

There are 187 communities that were abandoned.

Children are not allowed to live anywhere in the exclusion zone.