Map of radiation contamination of Nalibokskaya Pushcha. Atomic map of Russia and Eurasia

We were exposed to natural radiation exposure even before the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. TUT.BY visited four research institutions, studied documents, some of which have not yet been published, and learned how “natural exposure” to radon affects the health of Belarusians.

Belarusian scientists who have studied the problem are unanimous: radon affects the level of morbidity - including oncology - now much more than the echoes of Chernobyl. The problem of radon exposure exists in almost all countries, as well as ways to combat it. But it is in Belarus that everyone is focused on the topic of Chernobyl radiation - there are foreign funds, there are grants to overcome the consequences of the man-made disaster. Radon, from the point of view of attracting funds, is “uninteresting”, something that Belarusians should, in an amicable way, cope with themselves. But in times of crisis at the state level, funding for radon research is being reduced and the problem is simply not advertised.

What kind of gas is this?

First, let's define what radon is. This is a gas that is formed when radium decays. It is 7.5 times heavier than air and therefore accumulates in basements and on the first floors. Radon is odorless and cannot be “smelled.” It enters the body through the lungs; some cases of lung cancer can be explained by its exposure.

Although many people’s first association with the word “radon” is the sanatorium of the same name. Like, what kind of cancer, we remember - radon is useful. But the whole question is in the dosage. Here, as with the sun, without it - rickets, and if you spend a day in the sun in swimming trunks - burns, heat stroke, the threat of developing skin cancer.

“Radon is contained in soil air and water and can penetrate into rooms if they are located in areas where its content is high, in particular in tectonic fault zones,” explains Director of the Institute of Environmental Management of the National Academy of Sciences Alexander Karabanov. — In Belarus, at least 40% of the territory is potentially radon hazardous. The maximum permissible norm for residential premises is considered to be 200 becquerels per cubic meter. Excess radon was recorded in the premises of a number of settlements countries, most often in the Grodno, Mogilev and Vitebsk regions. Minsk also stands on faults, although there is no exact map of them.

The main sources and routes of radon penetration into buildings. Gas enters premises from soil, water, and building materials. Source: Geoliss.ru

Scale of the problem

According to UN materials, in the annual exposure of humanity, the share of exposure to products from various tests is 0.7%, from the operation of nuclear power plants - 0.3%, from medical examinations - 34%, from natural factors - 22%, and from radon decay products - 43%. This is indicated in the article “Concentration of radon in soil air”, published on the website of the Institute of Environmental Management of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

“Almost 30 years later, the radiation situation in Belarus has improved significantly. The contribution of “Chernobyl” radionuclides to the total radiation dose of the population of Belarus from all natural and man-made radiation sources currently does not exceed 5%,” says the “Monitoring of radon in the air of buildings in populated areas in the Brest region.” But the value of the average annual effective doses of radon radiation in four separate regions of the country exceeds the effective radiation dose of the population from “Chernobyl” radionuclides by 2.4-13.8 times, in the Brest region - by 6 times.

— Relevant studies have been carried out in a number of countries. Where the concentration of radon is higher, the morbidity rate is higher, including cancer, says Professor Alexander Karabanov.— A connection has also been established between gastritis, diabetes, and rheumatism with long-term stay in such areas.

Chief radiologist of the Mogilev Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology Leonid Lipnitsky took part in a study of the risks of disease from natural radiation.

“There is a misunderstanding in society about the radon problem,” he states. — Average annual effective radiation doses per resident of the Mogilev region were: from natural sources ionizing radiation, including radon 2.5 millisieverts, from radioactive contamination due to the Chernobyl accident (for radioactively contaminated areas) - 0.34 mSv . The difference is significant.

This is not classified information. Volumes are devoted to the problem of protecting public health from radon scientific works abroad.

“At the same time, the radiation danger of natural radon in Belarus has received little coverage. A national research program on the problem of radon and protecting the population from exposure to this gas has not yet been developed. But epidemiological studies have long discovered a direct connection between radon exposure and cancer, says Leonid Lipnitsky.

Where does radon come out?

In general, there are hundreds of faults running under Belarus. Full size map of them

“On the territory of Minsk, one fault runs approximately along the Svisloch, the second - from southwest to northeast, the third - along the western part of the city, partially under Pushkin Avenue,” says Alexander Karabanov. — Faults can be more than a kilometer wide (it differs in different areas) and do not run in a straight line.

In the 1990s, measurements of radon content were taken over faults in Belarus, and there its concentration increased several times. In addition to it, anomalies of geophysical fields are noted in these places.

However, it’s not only the faults that cause noise.

“High concentrations of radon in the soil air are formed in zones of gravel-pebble, moraine and some other clay deposits, as well as in the shallow occurrence of granite rocks,” notes engineer of the Joint Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (Sosny) Lev Vasilevsky.— In the Gomel region there is a fault on a fault, but there is less radon there compared to the Vitebsk region. However, in the north they are less studied. Radon can come not only from faults, but also from boulders and stones.

Where is "fonit" Minsk

The United Institute also carried out measurements in Minsk.

— We found an increased level of radon in Loshitsa, on the street. Mayakovsky, on Pushkin Ave., but these are isolated premises, for example, the registry office of the Frunzensky district. There is a lot of this gas in the Sosyny area. For example, in a quarry near the Moscow Ring Road there is 800 Bq per cubic meter, which is four times higher than the norm established for residential premises, the specialist adds.

Chief geophysicist of the Geophysical Expedition Alexander Belyashov agrees that where there are moraines (glacial deposits. - TUT.BY note), there is increased radioactivity. In the north it is higher than in the south. There are a lot of clay rocks there.

“Our radiologists made a correlation map between cancer incidence and exposure dose rate. Conclusion: soil composition is associated with cancer and other diseases,” the interlocutor clarifies.

Zoning scheme for radon concentration in soil air (No. 1−4, 6 - potentially radon-hazardous areas). Source: Institute of Natural Resources Management of the National Academy of Sciences

In general, when doctors say that they do not always understand why people in a certain area get sick more, they may simply not be taking into account the radon factor.

Logically, citizens living on fault lines and in “dark” territories should be warned about the danger.

— In these areas, special work must be carried out to prevent the penetration of radon into premises, especially residential ones, by concreting and other methods. It is important! - insists Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Alexey Matveev.

But the population is not warned. However, it cannot be said that Belarus is completely ignoring the problem.

“In our country, during new construction, radon in the soil must be measured, and building materials undergo careful control,” clarifies Alexander Belyashov.

Abroad, the problem has been given due attention for so long that no one notices that “anti-radon” protection is being done.

— A Swedish specialist came to us and advised us on faults. They have a clear correlation between the amount of radon in the home and the incidence of cancer. The problem there intensified long ago, when energy-saving housing with insulated facades and airtight windows came into fashion. They began to save on heating, but the number of diseases, including cancer, increased, says Alexander Belyashov. — In countries with a high radon hazard, there is forced sealing and ventilation of basements. This is in the building regulations. And it's not even discussed.

Indeed, there are no other ways to combat radon: only concreting and regular ventilation. It's enough.

The money has run out

Research on radon is carried out to the best of our ability by the Joint Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research, the Institute of Environmental Management of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Geophysical Expedition of the Research and Production Center for Geology.

Through the efforts of Belarusian scientists, a map of radon risk was created based on measurements in the air of buildings. It was presented in 2015. Judging by the map, increased concentrations of radon are in the premises of the Vitebsk, Grodno, and northeastern regions of the Mogilev regions. There are “spots” with dangerous radon concentrations ranging from 200-400 Bq per cubic meter in the Vitebsk, Grodno and Mogilev regions. To compile the radon risk map, 3594 measurements were used in 454 localities.

Map of radon concentration in rooms (No. 5 - the darkest spots - 200−400 Bq).

It is located ten kilometers from the border with the Republic of Belarus, which determined the extremely high contamination of the southern parts of the state with radioactive elements released from an emergency nuclear reactor.
Almost from the first day of the accident, the territory of the republic was subject to radioactive fallout, which became especially intense from April 27. The direction of the wind changed and until April 29, the wind carried radioactive dust in the direction of the Republic of Belarus and.
Due to intense contamination of the territory, 24,725 people were evacuated from Belarusian villages, and three regions of the Republic of Belarus were declared a Chernobyl exclusion zone. Today, at 2100 sq. km of alienated Belarusian territories, where the evacuation of the population was carried out, was organized. To characterize the contamination of the territory of the Republic of Belarus, we publish maps of radioactive fallout. The maps show the levels of contamination of the territory of the Republic of Belarus with 137 Cs.
The author of the cartographic materials is the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic, which jointly published the Atlas of modern and forecast aspects of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the affected territories of Russia and Belarus.

Map of Gomel region 137 Cs pollution

The Gomel region is one of the most affected by the accident. Pollution levels range from 1 to 40 or more Curie/km 2 for 137 Cs. As can be seen from the map of pollution in the Gomel region in 1986, the maximum levels of pollution were in the southern and northern parts of the region. Central districts of the region and the city Gomel had pollution up to 5 Curie / km 2.

1986 year cesium-137

Map of pollution of the Gomel region in 1996 year (cesium-137)

Map of pollution of the Gomel region in 2006 year (cesium-137)

By 20016, 30 years after contamination, the half-life of cesium-137 will pass and the levels of surface contamination in the Gomel region will not exceed 15 Curie/km 2 for 137 Cs (outside the territory of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve).

Map of pollution of the Gomel region in 2016 year (cesium-137)

Map of predicted pollution values ​​in the Gomel region 2056 year

Map of Minsk region 137 Cs pollution

Pollution map of the Minsk region in 1986

Levels of radionuclide contamination in the Minsk region cesium-137 in 2046 will not exceed 1 Curie 137 Cs. For details, see the map of forecast pollution estimates for the Minsk region.

Forecast values ​​of pollution of the Minsk region in 2046 for cesium-137

Map of Brest region contamination with 137 Cs

The Brest region of the Republic of Belarus was exposed to radionuclide contamination in the eastern part. The maximum levels of surface contamination in the Brest region after the Chernobyl accident (in 1986) were of the order of 5 - 10 Curies / km 2 for 137 Cs.

1986

Map of pollution of the Brest region after the Chernobyl accident in 1996

Map of cesium-137 radionuclide contamination in the Brest region 2006 year

2016 year

Forecast map of cesium-137 radionuclide contamination in the Brest region 2056 year

Map of contamination of the Mogilev region with radionuclide 137 Cs

Map of pollution of the Mogilev region after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (1986)

Map of pollution of the Mogilev region after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant ( 1996 year)

Map of contamination of the Mogilev region with cesium-137 radionuclide ( 2006 year)

Predicted contamination of the Mogilev region with cesium-137 radionuclide in 2016

Predicted contamination of the Mogilev region with cesium-137 radionuclide in 2056

• The material was prepared according to the data of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus " Atlas of modern and forecast aspects of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the affected territories of Russia and Belarus. «

On the night of April 26, 1986, the duty shift at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant began a planned experiment that led to great tragedy. Nuclear power plant employees wanted to know whether it was possible to use the energy of a turbogenerator for their own needs, in case of an accident. A favorable outcome would guarantee good bonuses, and perhaps even an order for the station director. But the whole world learned about what happened. You can see the full scale of the disaster on the map of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant contamination zone. As a result of a powerful explosion, a structure the height of a twenty-story building was destroyed.

Map of pollution from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

The events that occurred at Chernobyl changed the course of civilization and the thinking of many people. From the destroyed fourth nuclear reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a huge amount of radioactive substances, which managed to spread over a vast area in a short period of time. The long-lived radioactive elements that formed the contamination include the following radionuclides:

• Plutonium-239 (half-life - 24110 years);
• Americium-241 (half-life - 432 years);
• Cesium-137 (half-life - 30 years);
• Strontium-90 (half-life - 29 years).

Other isotopes such as Iodine-131, Cobalt-60, Cesium-134 have now practically disappeared due to their short half-life.

The infection map has a 30-kilometer exclusion zone. The territory of the zone is divided into three controlled areas: a special zone (industrial site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant), a 10-kilometer zone, and a 30-kilometer zone. Scientists who have studied this area for many years claim that the most radiation remains in the 10-kilometer area. The rest have already gradually rehabilitated themselves.

Hundreds of thousands of people located near the epicenter of events were evacuated from these zones. It is worth noting that twice more people, on the contrary, they were sent to help eliminate the consequences of the accident, that is, to eliminate radioactive contamination.

After the accident, as radioactive clouds moved, soil contamination became uneven. There were three foci of contamination:

• Central (where the nuclear power plant, the cities of Pripyat and Chernobyl are directly located);
• Bryansk-Belarusian focus;
• The outbreak is in the area of ​​Tula, Kaluga and Orel.

It is worth noting that the tragedy in Chernobyl left its mark on the entire world map. The radioactive cloud managed to visit many corners of the planet and rain down on the territories of Asia, North America, Ireland, and Japan. This is far from full list places she had visited.

Pollution maps of Russia

The radiation released from the fourth reactor block of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant covered an area of ​​more than 60,000 square kilometers on the map of Russia. 16 regions and the Republic of Moldova, whose population at that time was about 3 million people, were exposed to radioactive contamination. The regions that were located north of the Ukrainian border, at a distance of 100-550 km from the source, received the greatest amount of radiation. On the map you can see red and orange spots that colored such territories of Russia as: Bryansk, Oryol, Tula, Kaluga regions. According to scientists, the element Cesium-137 is most widespread in these areas.

Bryansk region

Bryansk region is considered the most affected in Russian Federation. The area of ​​pollution here extends over 12.1 thousand square kilometers. The content of radioisotopes in the soil is 15-40 Ci/km. sq., while in the exclusion zone more than 40 Ci/km. sq.

According to Roshydrometer forecasts, in the territory the level of radioactive contamination of the area with Cesium-137 isotopes will decrease to an acceptable value of 5 Ci/km. sq. no earlier than 2029. And the value is 1 Ci/km. sq. Will be achieved no earlier than 2098.

It is also worth noting that in the western part of the Bryansk region there is a maximum level of contamination with Strontium-90 and Plutonium-239, 240.

Oryol Region

Due to the destruction of the reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a huge area was damaged Soviet Union, including the Oryol region. An increased level of background radiation was recorded on April 30, 1986 in the Bolkhovsky and Dmitrovsky districts, including the city of Orel. 1243 people from the Oryol region took part in the liquidation of the Chernobyl accident. Of these, 43% became disabled of groups 1, 2, 3, and 9% died within 14 years after these events, to be more precise, 115 people. The Oryol region ranks third in terms of contamination with radiation isotopes due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Tula region

According to scientists' research, the soil layer of the Tula region will be cleared of harmful substances no earlier than 2050. The content of Cesium-137 here, even after more than 30 years, remains at high level, and reaches from 1 to 5 kg/km. sq. The most infected cities in the Tula region are as follows: Uzlovaya, Belev, Novomoskovsk, Plovsk, Bogoroditsk and Chern. The total area of ​​radioactive contamination in the entire region is 14.5 thousand square kilometers, and the condition of about a third of the soil is catastrophic.

Despite the difficult environmental situation in the whole region, the Tula region remains the leader among the ecological settlements created on its territory.

Kaluga region

From April 28 to April 29, 1986, two days after the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, heavy rains occurred in the southwestern territory of the Kaluga region, which brought with them dangerous radionuclides. Ten districts of the Kaluga region fell under the Chernobyl radiation cloud, which contained several major radioactive elements: Cesium-137, Cesium-134, Iodine-131 and Strontium-90. The area of ​​cesium contamination reaches 11.7 km. sq. About 5 thousand people took part in eliminating the consequences of the accident; today 3 thousand of them are alive, and 500 have become disabled.

Thanks to natural self-purification processes, the radiation situation has already improved significantly at this time. Average annual radiation doses for the majority of contaminated settlements in the Kaluga region have decreased.

The disaster that occurred in Chernobyl in the spring of 1986 turned people's consciousness upside down, influencing the history of mankind as a whole. The territory of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant depicts a picture of a large-scale environmental disaster, the consequences of which will leave their mark for many years to come.

The Chernobyl exclusion zone is a place of events that, through its example, reminds the whole world of how dire the consequences can be if safety precautions are neglected.

Radiation situation on the territory of the Republic of Belarus

RADIATION SITUATION IN

TERRITORIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Radiation monitoring in the Republic of Belarus was carried out in accordance with the “Instructions on the procedure for conducting observations of natural radiation background and radioactive contamination atmospheric air, soil, surface and groundwater at radiation monitoring observation points”, approved by order of the Ministry natural resources and environmental protection of the Republic of Belarus dated 01.01.2001 No. 000 - OD and “List of those under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Protection environment of the Republic of Belarus radiation monitoring observation points”, approved by Resolution of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus dated January 1, 2001 No. 20 (Resolution No. 20).

In accordance with Resolution No. 20, in the fourth quarter of 2016, 42 radiation monitoring observation points operated on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, at which gamma radiation dose rate (hereinafter referred to as MD) measurements are carried out daily. At 24 observation points located throughout the Republic of Belarus, radioactive fallout from the atmosphere was monitored (sampling was carried out using horizontal tablets). At 5 observation points (Mozyr, Naroch, Pinsk, Braslav and Mstislavl), samples were taken daily to determine the total beta activity of natural atmospheric fallout, at 19 points - once every 10 days.

At 7 observation points located in the cities of Braslav, Gomel, Minsk, Mogilev, Mozyr, Mstislavl, Pinsk, sampling of radioactive aerosols in the ground layer of the atmosphere was carried out using filter ventilation units. Of these: at 5 points located in areas affected by nuclear power plants of neighboring countries, sampling is carried out daily; at two points (Minsk and Mogilev) - sampling is carried out on duty (once every 10 days).

All information on the MD of gamma radiation, radioactive fallout from the atmosphere and the content of radioactive aerosols in the air was entered into an automated data bank where meteorological data is stored.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the radiation situation in the republic remained stable; not a single case of MD levels exceeding the established long-term values ​​was detected.

As before, increased MD levels were recorded at observation points in the cities of Bragin and Slavgorod (average value for the quarter 0.54 µSv/h and 20 µSv/h, respectively), located in zones of radioactive contamination (Fig. 13, Fig. 14).

Figure 13 - Average MD value at radiation monitoring observation points in the Gomel region in the 4th quarter of 2016

Figure 14 - Average MD value at radiation monitoring observation points in the Mogilev region in the 4th quarter of 2016

In the rest of the territory of the Republic of Belarus, MD levels ranged from 0.10 to 0.12 μSv/h.

1. Levels of gamma radiation dose rate, radioactivity of natural fallout and aerosols in the air on the territory of the Republic of Belarus corresponded to the established long-term values.

2. In the territories contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, at radiation monitoring observation points, elevated MD levels remained as before in the cities of Bragin and Slavgorod (0.54 μSv/h and 20 μSv/h, respectively). In the rest of the territory of the Republic of Belarus, MD levels ranged from 0.10 to 0.12 μSv/h.

3. Current information on gamma radiation dose rate levels in the observation zones of the Chernobyl, Ignalina, Smolensk and Rivne nuclear power plants, received in the fourth quarter of 2016, indicates that the radiation situation remained stable.

4. The maximum monthly average values ​​of the total beta activity of radioactive fallout from the atmosphere and the values ​​of the total beta activity of aerosol concentrations in the surface layer of the atmosphere were significantly lower than the control levels of total beta activity.

* Location of border troops units

Much has been written about Chernobyl in the 30 years since the disaster. Much more will be written. But no one will ever tell the whole truth, because no one knows the whole truth. Objective assessment consequences of the accident - the subject of many years of debate among experts different countries, but this assessment is often politicized. Belarusian specialists in the field of radiation monitoring know a lot. But they are officially silent, only in an informal setting telling what is shocking.

10 years ago in Belarusian state institute metrology (Bel State Historical Museum) had a chance to see classified official documents from one of the closed conferences at which the real state of both natural resources and the health of Belarusians was discussed. Genetic changes in the human body, mutation of trees, dilution of pure products with contaminated ones to an acceptable level - all this is not new, but when you read official documents about it, the world takes on a different shape. Rumors are supported by facts, facts are surrounded by rumors. Piece by piece, from scattered puzzles, we are putting together a mosaic of the past, present and future. For now it is obvious that Chernobyl continues. Because Chernobyl is forever.

About the reactor

— To imagine the scale of the disaster, you need to understand what the RBMK-1000 reactor is. The basis is a concrete shaft with dimensions of 21.6 × 21.6 × 25.5 m, at the bottom of which lies a steel sheet 2 m thick and 14.5 m in diameter. On this plate rests a cylindrical graphite masonry, pierced with channels for fuel rods and coolant and rods.

— The diameter of the masonry is 11.8 m, the height is 7 m. It is surrounded by a shell with water, which serves as additional bioprotection. The top of the reactor is covered with a metal plate with a diameter of 17.5 m and a thickness of 3 m.

— The total mass of the reactor is 1850 tons, and all this mass was thrown out of the mine by an explosion. Such destruction could result from a very powerful explosion, which can only be produced by a nuclear charge.

About the explosion itself

— The 73-meter atomic monster has shrunk by almost half. Pieces of the reactor rod scattered across nearby fields.

— The destroyed reactor contained more than 190 tons of nuclear fuel. Up to 60 tons of fuel were released into the environment in the form of small fragments, dust and aerosols.

— The release of radioactive isotopes from the destroyed reactor continued for more than 10 days and was 600 times greater than the explosion in Hiroshima in terms of environmental contamination with cesium-137.

— For almost two weeks, explosions and a fire at the fourth unit released 1.85 × 1018 Bq of activity into the atmosphere, which is equivalent to the consequences of 500 explosions atomic bombs, dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

— About 80 different isotopes entered the atmosphere. The main danger is not uranium itself, but highly active isotopes of its fission - cesium, iodine, strontium, as well as plutonium and other transuranium elements.

- The radiation level at the epicenter of the explosion on the night of April 25-26 reached 2000 roentgens per hour: in 18 minutes - a lethal dose!

— Since the explosion of the 4th unit, there have been about 40 more fires in the reactor area, which only a select few knew about.

Causes of the accident

— In 1990 State Commission Gosatomnadzor analyzed 13 versions of the causes of the accident. The most probable version is associated with the presence of a reactivity effect of the reactor control and protection system. It has been proven that the operators performed such prohibited actions as blocking some emergency protection signals and turning off the emergency core cooling system; worked with a reactivity margin on the control rods below the value allowed by regulations; The reactor was put into operating mode with flow rates and water temperatures through the channels above the regulated ones, with a reactor power lower than that provided for by the program.

— Many documents refute official version Chernobyl accident. The cause of the accident was not a personnel error, but a super-weak earthquake - this version is confirmed by scientists from the Academy of Sciences, participants in the liquidation of the accident, and people who experienced tremors. Why is the reason not recognized? Due to the likelihood of repetition of similar tremors at any point. Just look at the secret map of earthquake-prone areas of Moscow, where particularly dangerous nuclear and chemical facilities are located.

— In the Chernobyl nuclear power plant area there were three seismic stations that carried out secret missions of the Ministry of Defense. There is a document in which the station management, six months before the accident, asks the Academy of Sciences to send specialists to study unknown tectonic phenomena that occur under the fourth power unit. The study was postponed until mid-May. The station did not live to see the May holidays...

— According to researchers, possible reason explosion could have become a new type of radiation, which under special conditions appears due to an electromagnetic pulse. This impulse, according to scientists, leads to “cold mutation.” chemical elements" That is, to the transformation of some elements into others with a change in their isotopic composition. At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the source of the powerful pulse could have been a short circuit on the run-out generator. The pulse could lead to a change in the isotopic composition and enrichment of almost spent uranium fuel in the reactor itself. That is, instead of birch logs, “in the firebox” suddenly there were sticks of dynamite.

Liquidation…

— To extinguish the fire in the reactor, more than 6 tons of lead were dropped from helicopters. The lead content in the blood of children in nearby areas exceeded the permissible standards by 150 times!

— The USSR authorities shot all the clouds moving towards Scandinavia, Moscow and St. Petersburg over Belarus - 2/3 of the radionuclides fell on its territory, contaminating a quarter Belarusian land(in Ukraine 4.8% of the territory, in Russia 0.5% of the land).

Every fifth Belarusian (half are children) received radiation. At the same time, in Belarus 18 diseases are recognized as related to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in Ukraine - 176, in Russia - 150.

— The disaster site was covered with a mixture of lead, boron and dolomite, after which a concrete sarcophagus was erected over the reactor in November 1986. Its construction took over 400 thousand cubic meters of concrete, several thousand tons of weakening radioactive radiation mixtures and 7000 tons of metal structures. Today the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is not functioning, but almost 750 people are currently working on it to replace the old “sarcophagus” with a new one. The progress of work is broadcast around the clock on the official website of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant http://www.chnpp.gov.ua/.

What else were the authorities silent about?

— In the zone of increased radioactive contamination after the accident, more than 3 thousand tons of meat and 15 tons of butter were stored. The meat was processed into canned food, and the oil was put on sale after storage.

— The Ukrainian intelligence services knew about defective Yugoslav equipment used in the construction of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, about errors in the design of the station, about cracks and delamination of the foundation. And on February 4, 1986 (three months before the disaster) it was warned about a possible emergency.

- Indirect evidence that scientists have given government approval to remain silent about Chernobyl may be the fact that the scientist Valery Legasov, who voiced the official version of what was happening to the foreign press, hanged himself in 1988, leaving a voice recorder in his office about the details of the accident. That part of the recording, which chronologically should have contained a story about the authorities’ reaction to the events in the first days, turned out to be erased by unidentified persons.

Consequences for the body

— Within 12 years after the accident, the incidence of cancer among children and adolescents in Belarus increased 25 times! According to professor, oncologist-pathomorphologist of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Oncology and Medical Radiology Gennady Muravyov, after 30 years or more, it is among the adult population of the country that the number of cases will increase. All those who were under 18 years of age at the time of the accident remain at risk. According to statistics, the number of people of this age in our country then reached more than 2.5 million people.

— In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, children under 10 years of age suffered the most from thyroid cancer, and the highest risk occurred between 15 and 29 years after exposure. Cancer rates in Japan remained elevated even after 40 years. 60 years after irradiation, victims began to experience myelodysplastic syndrome, which is called the “second blood cancer.” We have now crossed the 30-year mark.

Recently, a world-famous Japanese professor, Kazuo Shimizu, noted that according to statistics, the incidence of thyroid cancer in children in Japan after Fukushima was higher than in Belarus after Chernobyl: in Belarus there was 1 case of thyroid cancer per 10 thousand people, in Japan after Fukushima - 1 in 2 .5 thousand people. Despite the fact that Chernobyl disaster 6-10 times larger than the accident at Fukushima: at the Japanese nuclear power plant the radiation leakage amounted to 370 thousand terabecquerels, at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant - 5.2 million terabecquerels. In addition, Japan is rich in iodine, while Belarus is iodine deficient. What is the reason for the paradox? One explanation could be errors in screening the Japanese population, Kazuo Shimizu delicately suggested. The Japanese scientist who worked in our country on the implementation of screening programs did not say that the population of Belarus may not be sufficiently examined.

— Respiratory system is practically not susceptible to radiation damage with low chronic exposure, but this turned out to be sufficient to suppress the synthesis of surfactan, which is responsible for straightening the lungs immediately after birth.

— In the blood, with simultaneous irradiation, the number of platelets, leukocytes, and erythrocytes decreases. With chronic irradiation, the development of increasing neutropenia, lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia is possible.

— Nonspecific defense is disrupted in the immune system, which leads to a sharp weakening of the body, an increase in infectious morbidity and an increase in chronic pathologies. The incidence of children in the “contaminated” zone is increased 5 times. According to unofficial estimates, tens of thousands of crayfish are expected.

— Only 5% of all Belarusian children are born completely healthy. According to statistics, every year at least 2,500 children are born with bone anomalies, defects internal organs, anencephaly (absence of the brain).

- In women at the age of 70, lactation appears, in children - accelerated aging, the epithelium in the digestive tract turns into the epithelium that can be observed in 60-70 year olds.

— Half of the newborns in the Chernobyl area, irradiated in the womb, are mentally retarded.

— In the exclusion zone, where the background radiation exceeds 40 curies, and it would seem impossible to live, people live, drink water, grow vegetables on contaminated soil, harvest wood, raise livestock, and conduct experiments in the field of agriculture.

— The level of mutation increased 10 times and the consequences of Chernobyl began to be transmitted to subsequent generations, in which more than 50 thousand cases of deformities and mutations were recorded among infants - 30% of all births, instead of 4% of the generally accepted “mistakes of nature.” Think about it - a third of women in contaminated areas had a high probability of giving birth to a “mutant”.

— Among the population of radiation-contaminated areas, the incidence of various diseases is 20-30% higher, and among children - by 50%. Accidents, injuries, alcoholism, suicides and sudden deaths for unknown reasons are more often recorded there. The psychological consequences of the accident were very severe.

“I can say right away: hereditary and congenital malformations will definitely be removed from this list,” said Eldar Nadyrov, deputy director of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Radiation Medicine. “Over the past 15 years, not a single case of disability or mortality from such defects has been causally related [to the accident."

Nature has mutated too

— The forest accumulated 80% of the emissions after the accident. In the Gomel region, the frequency of mutations in coniferous species increased 2-3 times, in the Polesie radioecological reserve - almost 12 times.

— In the early 90s, it was discovered that there was a process of accumulation of radioactive substances in wood from the soil, and the peak of accumulation would occur in 2000-2005. Then a half-life (half-decrease) period should begin, which will be 20-45 years (until 2025-2050), and only then will it be possible to knit brooms for the bath without any fear. In the meantime, forests in “contaminated” areas are a stable and uncontrollable source of radiation.

“The flora and fauna of the infected places also underwent a strong mutation - animals with six legs, two heads, four horns and other deformities will not surprise anyone there. It is known that many collections of specimens with mutations that belonged to famous scientists and researchers of the contaminated zone were seized by the authorities in the first decade after the accident.

Bandazhevsky's research

— In 1999, the rector of the Belarusian Gomel Medical Institute, Yuri Bandazhevsky, showed with his research that the incidence of cardiovascular diseases has increased 4 times.

— Today, the acceptable standards are 340 becquerels of radiocesium per day for city residents, 463 for rural residents! According to the professor, confirmed by research, receiving 80-100 becquerels of radiocesium per day can be considered severe cesium intoxication.

— Almost 300 autopsies in contaminated areas showed: in the body of the deceased - 100 becquerels of cesium per kilogram, in the heart - 1000, and in the kidneys - 3000.

— When examining several hundred teenage girls in Gomel, a terrible picture emerged - female reproductive cells are being replaced by male ones!

— Bandazhevsky argued against the return of contaminated land to agriculture, the sale and export of contaminated vegetables, and criticized official research conducted by the government. For this, in 1999 he was sentenced to 8 years in prison and after 6 years he was released on parole.

— In February 2003, the scientist was declared an honorary citizen of Paris and 15 French cities. The European Parliament issued him a Freedom Passport, giving him the right to free entry into any EU country.

Chernobyl is forever

— Half-lives for strontium-90 are 28 years. IN large quantities it accumulates in legumes and cereals, is dangerous as a source of internal radiation, has a high degree of resorption and is very slowly eliminated from the body.

— The half-life of cesium-137 is 30 years, during which time it is halved.

— The exclusion zone is contaminated with long-lived transuranium isotopes, so it cannot be returned to economic circulation even in the long term.

— Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24,000 years. One of the plutonium isotopes decays within 14 years and turns into americium with a half-life of 432 years. Americium, unlike plutonium, is a much stronger emitter and soluble in water. The "cleansed" land again becomes a slow killer. It is believed that in the contaminated areas of Belarus, due to the increase in the amount of americium, by 2086 the background will be 2.5 times higher than immediately after the accident. So it goes.