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User:Tan-brooks-/Effects of the Chernobyl disaster

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Red Forest edit

The Red Forest is a 400-hectare section of forest directly west of the explosion location. [1] The area received its name from the effects shown by radiation exposure in the area. The level of of radiation caused the normally green pine needles to become red in color before the eventual death of 90% of the trees in the area. [2][3] The Red Forest is believed to be one of the most affected areas of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Short-Term Effects of Radiation in the Red Forest edit

Plant Life edit

The explosions of the Chernobyl Reactor Explosions released 400 times more radiation into the atmosphere and soil than the detonation of atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. [4] The affected area regrew with deciduous tree species that are more resistant to radiation the the previously present conifers of the the area. [5]

Wildlife edit

Reports showed at the time showed negative effects of the high levels of nuclear radiation on local wildlife. A report conducted on the rodent population in the Red Forest indicated high levels of genetic change in mice. [6]

Long-Term Effects of Radiation in the Red Forest edit

Plant Life edit

Efforts were made to replant the lost trees in the affected area. The saplings planted grew without a central leading stem, which caused the trees to experience diminished height and girth. [7] This caused the trees to resemble bushes rather than pine trees. [8]

The soil quality has also remained irradiated long after the initial meltdown. As of 2001, 90% of the documented strontium had moved to the first 10cm of soil[9]

Wildlife edit

 
Picture of Przewalski horses that reside in the Red Forest of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

The Red Forest has had its wildlife return and has become a diverse habitat of a number of species, namely 200 different bird species, brown bears, lynx, bison, wolves, and Przewalski horses.[10]

There are also signs present that species have adapted to the new levels of radiation. Frogs in the area are a darker color than their counterparts from non- irradiated areas.[10]

Sources edit

[1] Why the Red Forest Near Chernobyl Is Still Radioactive Today". CHERNOBYLwel.come. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

[2] Beresford, Prof Nick (2017-01-24). "Understanding the ecological impact of major fire in Chernobyl's 'Red Forest'". UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

[3] "Ecological Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster". large.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

[4] International Atomic Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency (1996). "Ten years after Chernobyl: What do we really know?" (PDF). Atomic Commission. 28: 8.

[5] International Atomic Energy Agency (August 2001). "Present and future environmental impact of the Chernobyl accident".

[6] Barker, Robert J.; Van Den Bussche, Ronald A.; Wright, Amanda J.; Wiggins, Lara E.; Hamilton, Meredith J.; Reat, Erin P.; Smith, Micheal H.; Lomakin, Micheal D.; Chesser, Ronald K. (1996-04). "High levels of genetic change in rodents of Chernobyl". Nature. 380 (6576): 707–708. doi:10.1038/380707a0. ISSN 1476-4687.

[7] Bird, Winifred A.; Little, Jane Braxton (2013-3). "A Tale of Two Forests: Addressing Postnuclear Radiation at Chernobyl and Fukushima". Environmental Health Perspectives. 121 (3): a78–a85. doi:10.1289/ehp.121-a78. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 3621180. PMID 23454631.

[8] Yoschenko, Vasyl I.; Kashparov, Valery A.; Melnychuk, Maxim D.; Levchuk, Svjatoslav E.; Bondar, Yulia O.; Lazarev, Mykola; Yoschenko, Maria I.; Farfán, Eduardo B.; Jannik, G. Timothy (2011-10). "CHRONIC IRRADIATION OF SCOTS PINE TREES (PINUS SYLVESTRIS) IN THE CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE: DOSIMETRY AND RADIOBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:". Health Physics. 101(4): 393–408. doi:10.1097/HP.0b013e3182118094. ISSN 0017-9078.

[9] "Chornobyl Center - on problems of nuclear safety, radioactive waste and radioecology". Chornobyl Center. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

[10] "Chernobyl has become a refuge for wildlife 33 years after the nuclear accident". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2020-04-16.

  1. ^ a b "Why the Red Forest Near Chernobyl Is Still Radioactive Today". CHERNOBYLwel.come. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  2. ^ a b Beresford, Prof Nick (2017-01-24). "Understanding the ecological impact of major fire in Chernobyl's 'Red Forest'". UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  3. ^ a b "Ecological Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster". large.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  4. ^ a b International Atomic Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency (1996). "Ten years after Chernobyl: What do we really know?" (PDF). Atomic Commission. 28: 8. {{cite journal}}: line feed character in |title= at position 27 (help)
  5. ^ a b International Atomic Energy Agency (August 2001). "Present and future environmental impact of the Chernobyl accident".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b Barker, Robert J.; Van Den Bussche, Ronald A.; Wright, Amanda J.; Wiggins, Lara E.; Hamilton, Meredith J.; Reat, Erin P.; Smith, Micheal H.; Lomakin, Micheal D.; Chesser, Ronald K. (1996-04). "High levels of genetic change in rodents of Chernobyl". Nature. 380 (6576): 707–708. doi:10.1038/380707a0. ISSN 1476-4687. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Bird, Winifred A.; Little, Jane Braxton (2013-3). "A Tale of Two Forests: Addressing Postnuclear Radiation at Chernobyl and Fukushima". Environmental Health Perspectives. 121 (3): a78–a85. doi:10.1289/ehp.121-a78. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 3621180. PMID 23454631. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b Yoschenko, Vasyl I.; Kashparov, Valery A.; Melnychuk, Maxim D.; Levchuk, Svjatoslav E.; Bondar, Yulia O.; Lazarev, Mykola; Yoschenko, Maria I.; Farfán, Eduardo B.; Jannik, G. Timothy (2011-10). "CHRONIC IRRADIATION OF SCOTS PINE TREES (PINUS SYLVESTRIS) IN THE CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE: DOSIMETRY AND RADIOBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:". Health Physics. 101 (4): 393–408. doi:10.1097/HP.0b013e3182118094. ISSN 0017-9078. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Chornobyl Center - on problems of nuclear safety, radioactive waste and radioecology". Chornobyl Center. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  10. ^ a b c "Chernobyl has become a refuge for wildlife 33 years after the nuclear accident". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
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