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__The Chernobyl Disaster__
"Chernobyl was, is and will be one of Ukraine's biggest problems.” -Oleh Andreev

On April 16, 1986 in Pripyat, Ukraine the worst nuclear power plant accident in history took place. At the beginning of that day reactor 4 had begun preparing for a test to determine how long turbines would spin and supply power following a loss of main electrical power supply. As the operator proceeded a sudden power surge caused the fuel elements to rupture with a great explosion of steam to lift off the cover plate of the reactor. This is turn released fission products into the atmosphere. The second explosion was ignited after flames reached graphite which burned for nine days and released the majority of the radioactivity into the environment. In the immediate time following the Chernobyl Disaster many problems arose. First off being that the materials released were deposited as either as heavier dust and debris, but some of the lighter material were carried by the wind into places such as Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and to some extent over Scandinavia and Europe. The next impact was the number of deaths, mostly from the radiation. There were 28 in the first four months and 19 after that. The other and most time consuming effect was the cleanup process. Hundreds of thousands of people were sent to help clean up, and almost all of them receiving some amount of radiation. An evacuation of 45000 people occurred between may 2nd and 3rd of people in a 10km radios and then on may 4th another 116000 people in a 30km radius were removed.



Organizations around stated that there were effects to peoples health and environment after the disaster from the radiation. By 2000 around 4000 deaths from thyroid cancer from children who were exposed have been discovered. An increased risk of leukemia may be found in the future of workers in the Chernobyl incident. With this though scientist have proved that there was/is no risk of nor any likelihood of birth defects, bad pregnancy outcomes, decreased fertility or any other radiation induced disease in the general population either in the contaminated areas or areas abroad. There was only solid evidence that people who were in direct contact with the radiation at the time, may be in risk. The area around Chernobyl after 14 years has been deemed by many scientists as an ok place to live, with traces of radiation, normal to the natural world.



Up to the year 2000, the Chernobyl power plant company continued to run the remaining two reactors until they were forced to close down. Today reactor four remains within a huge concrete building. Unfortunately due to its quick construction, this is enclosure is beginning to fall apart and the international shelter implementation plan is trying to raise more than 715 million dollars in hope to strengthen the building and remove the radioactive materials. As a result of the disaster the original town of Pripyat (which was only 3 km away) has been relocated to Slavutich (30 km away from the plant). Due to this tragic loss, the Ukraine has been continuously is debt to Russia for their aid in energy supplies, but have hope in gaining some of their independence back by creating their own nuclear fuel facilities. However, due to this disaster, all RBMK reactors have been changed so that is almost impossible for another event to occur such as this!