1) In 1986, a nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine causing multiple explosions that released significant radioactive material into the atmosphere.
2) Over 100,000 people were evacuated from the surrounding area in the initial aftermath.
3) 57 direct deaths are attributed to the accident, including 28 from acute radiation syndrome. Thousands of additional cancer cases, especially thyroid cancer, have been diagnosed since from long-term radiation exposure.
Chernobyl disaster and what are the lessons we have to learn especially India which having 21 Nuclear Centers or Plants
Reference Video Link is given below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9JSGU8MRb0
Chernobyl disaster and what are the lessons we have to learn especially India which having 21 Nuclear Centers or Plants
Reference Video Link is given below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9JSGU8MRb0
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.
Cash Study of Three Mile Island of Nuclear Melt DownAshish Kavaiya
The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant is located on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, USA, 16 km from the state capital, Harrisburg, a city of 90 000.
It has two 900 MW(e) units with pressurized water reactors designed by Babcock and Wilcox.
The second unit of the site started commercial operation on December 30, 1978.
Presentation on the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster regarded as the worst nuclear disaster in the history
On 26 April 1986 the nuclear power plant near Pripyat in Ukraine burst and led to the death of many people and leaving more people disabled. This presentation explores the reasons behind the accident and the measures that were taken by the authorities.
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.
Cash Study of Three Mile Island of Nuclear Melt DownAshish Kavaiya
The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant is located on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, USA, 16 km from the state capital, Harrisburg, a city of 90 000.
It has two 900 MW(e) units with pressurized water reactors designed by Babcock and Wilcox.
The second unit of the site started commercial operation on December 30, 1978.
Presentation on the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster regarded as the worst nuclear disaster in the history
On 26 April 1986 the nuclear power plant near Pripyat in Ukraine burst and led to the death of many people and leaving more people disabled. This presentation explores the reasons behind the accident and the measures that were taken by the authorities.
Here is a ppt for the nuclear accident happened at Chernobyl nuclear reactor.
do go through it and do share your feedback regarding it
have a good day ahead !
Chernobyl Disaster - by ALOKRANJAN.ORG.INALOK RANJAN
The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, in northern Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union). It is considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history.
**Cause and Immediate Impact:**
The disaster was triggered by a sudden power output surge during a safety test in Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl plant. This caused a massive explosion and fire, which released large quantities of radioactive particles and gases into the atmosphere.
The immediate impact was devastating. The explosion killed two plant workers instantly and led to the rapid deaths of 28 firefighters and plant workers due to acute radiation syndrome (ARS). The fallout spread radioactive materials across much of Europe, leading to widespread contamination and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from nearby areas, including the city of Pripyat.
**Casualties and Aftermath:**
The full scale of casualties and long-term health effects remains a topic of debate, but it is estimated that thousands of people, including emergency responders and cleanup workers (known as liquidators), suffered from radiation-related illnesses such as cancer, thyroid disorders, and other health problems.
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a 30-kilometer radius around the plant, remains largely uninhabited due to high levels of radiation. The long-term environmental and health impacts of the disaster continue to be studied and monitored.
**Response and Legacy:**
The response to the disaster was initially characterized by misinformation and inadequate safety measures. However, efforts to contain the immediate fallout, stabilize the reactor, and clean up the contaminated areas were eventually undertaken, often at great risk to those involved.
The Chernobyl disaster had far-reaching consequences beyond Ukraine. It raised awareness about the risks associated with nuclear power and prompted improvements in nuclear safety standards and regulations worldwide. It also influenced public opinion and policy debates surrounding energy production and environmental protection.
In popular culture, the Chernobyl disaster has been the subject of numerous documentaries, books, and films, further highlighting its significance as a pivotal event in the history of nuclear power and global environmental awareness.
"Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Processes, Human Impacts, and Strategies for...MMariSelvam4
The carbon cycle is a critical component of Earth's environmental system, governing the movement and transformation of carbon through various reservoirs, including the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. This complex cycle involves several key processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and carbon sequestration, each contributing to the regulation of carbon levels on the planet.
Human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, have significantly altered the natural carbon cycle, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and driving climate change. Understanding the intricacies of the carbon cycle is essential for assessing the impacts of these changes and developing effective mitigation strategies.
By studying the carbon cycle, scientists can identify carbon sources and sinks, measure carbon fluxes, and predict future trends. This knowledge is crucial for crafting policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting sustainable practices. The carbon cycle's interplay with climate systems, ecosystems, and human activities underscores its importance in maintaining a stable and healthy planet.
In-depth exploration of the carbon cycle reveals the delicate balance required to sustain life and the urgent need to address anthropogenic influences. Through research, education, and policy, we can work towards restoring equilibrium in the carbon cycle and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Characterization and the Kinetics of drying at the drying oven and with micro...Open Access Research Paper
The objective of this work is to contribute to valorization de Nephelium lappaceum by the characterization of kinetics of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum. The seeds were dehydrated until a constant mass respectively in a drying oven and a microwawe oven. The temperatures and the powers of drying are respectively: 50, 60 and 70°C and 140, 280 and 420 W. The results show that the curves of drying of seeds of Nephelium lappaceum do not present a phase of constant kinetics. The coefficients of diffusion vary between 2.09.10-8 to 2.98. 10-8m-2/s in the interval of 50°C at 70°C and between 4.83×10-07 at 9.04×10-07 m-8/s for the powers going of 140 W with 420 W the relation between Arrhenius and a value of energy of activation of 16.49 kJ. mol-1 expressed the effect of the temperature on effective diffusivity.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GREEN WASHING IS!.pdfJulietMogola
Many companies today use green washing to lure the public into thinking they are conserving the environment but in real sense they are doing more harm. There have been such several cases from very big companies here in Kenya and also globally. This ranges from various sectors from manufacturing and goes to consumer products. Educating people on greenwashing will enable people to make better choices based on their analysis and not on what they see on marketing sites.
Willie Nelson Net Worth: A Journey Through Music, Movies, and Business Venturesgreendigital
Willie Nelson is a name that resonates within the world of music and entertainment. Known for his unique voice, and masterful guitar skills. and an extraordinary career spanning several decades. Nelson has become a legend in the country music scene. But, his influence extends far beyond the realm of music. with ventures in acting, writing, activism, and business. This comprehensive article delves into Willie Nelson net worth. exploring the various facets of his career that have contributed to his large fortune.
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Introduction
Willie Nelson net worth is a testament to his enduring influence and success in many fields. Born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. Nelson's journey from a humble beginning to becoming one of the most iconic figures in American music is nothing short of inspirational. His net worth, which estimated to be around $25 million as of 2024. reflects a career that is as diverse as it is prolific.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Humble Origins
Willie Hugh Nelson was born during the Great Depression. a time of significant economic hardship in the United States. Raised by his grandparents. Nelson found solace and inspiration in music from an early age. His grandmother taught him to play the guitar. setting the stage for what would become an illustrious career.
First Steps in Music
Nelson's initial foray into the music industry was fraught with challenges. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his dreams, but success did not come . Working as a songwriter, Nelson penned hits for other artists. which helped him gain a foothold in the competitive music scene. His songwriting skills contributed to his early earnings. laying the foundation for his net worth.
Rise to Stardom
Breakthrough Albums
The 1970s marked a turning point in Willie Nelson's career. His albums "Shotgun Willie" (1973), "Red Headed Stranger" (1975). and "Stardust" (1978) received critical acclaim and commercial success. These albums not only solidified his position in the country music genre. but also introduced his music to a broader audience. The success of these albums played a crucial role in boosting Willie Nelson net worth.
Iconic Songs
Willie Nelson net worth is also attributed to his extensive catalog of hit songs. Tracks like "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "On the Road Again," and "Always on My Mind" have become timeless classics. These songs have not only earned Nelson large royalties but have also ensured his continued relevance in the music industry.
Acting and Film Career
Hollywood Ventures
In addition to his music career, Willie Nelson has also made a mark in Hollywood. His distinctive personality and on-screen presence have landed him roles in several films and television shows. Notable appearances include roles in "The Electric Horseman" (1979), "Honeysuckle Rose" (1980), and "Barbarosa" (1982). These acting gigs have added a significant amount to Willie Nelson net worth.
Television Appearances
Nelson's char
Natural farming @ Dr. Siddhartha S. Jena.pptxsidjena70
A brief about organic farming/ Natural farming/ Zero budget natural farming/ Subash Palekar Natural farming which keeps us and environment safe and healthy. Next gen Agricultural practices of chemical free farming.
3. Nuclear Power Plant
● Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant.
● With more than 440 commercial reactors worldwide, nuclear power
continues to be one of the largest sources of reliable carbon-
free electricity available.
● The main job of a reactor is to house and control nuclear fission—a
process where atoms split and release energy.
4. A nuclear reactor consists of three crucial components:
1. fuel elements,
2. moderators and
3. control rods.
1. Fuel elements
● shape - thin rods of about 1 cm in diameter
● contain fissionable nuclei like uranium-235 or uranium-238.
● This region where these fuel elements are placed is called the
reactor core.
● These fuel elements are normally immersed in water which acts
both as a coolant and moderator.
5. 2. Moderator
● capability to slow down or in other words moderate the speeds
of these high-energy neutrons.
● used for a chain reaction to trigger multiple fission reactions of
other uranium-235 nuclei.
● commonly ordinary or heavy water is used as a moderator
because of the deuterons present in them.
● Graphite is also used as moderator
3. Control rods.
● to absorb any excess or spare neutron in the moderator in order
to prevent any further fission reactions.
● to ensure the nuclear reaction takes place at the right speed,
reactors have systems that accelerate, slow or shut down the
nuclear reaction, and the heat it produces.
● typically are made out of neutron-absorbing materials such as
silver or boron or cadmium
8. Where is Chernobyl?
Northern Ukraine
The Chernobyl nuclear facility is located in Ukraine about 20 km south of the
border with Belarus.
9. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
⬜ Located 17Km’s north of the city of Chernobyl
⬜ Plant consisted of 4 reactors (units 1,2,3 & 4)
⬜ Produced 10% of Ukraine’s electricity
⬜ Construction began in the 1970’s
⬜ Reactor No.4 was completed in 1983
10. What Happened?
-The Chernobyl reactor is of the type Soviet
RBMK, which is an abbreviation in Russian
Reactor BolshoMoshchnosty Kanalny,
meaning “high-power channel reactor.”
-It is a pressurized water reactor using light
water as a coolant and graphite as a
moderator.
-The accident occurred in the very early
morning (1:24 am) of 26 April 1986 when
Reactor No.4 was undergoing a test of the
backup power supply in case of a power
loss.
-The power fell too low, allowing the
concentration of xenon-135 to rise.
11. What Happened?
-The workers continued the test, and in order to control the rising levels
of xenon-135 (produced in nuclear reactions), the control rods were
pulled out.
-The experiment involved shutting down the coolant pumps, which caused
the coolant to rapidly heat up and boil.
-Pockets of steam formed in the coolant lines. When the coolant
expanded in this particular design, the power level went up.
-All control rods were ordered to be inserted. As the rods were inserted,
they became deformed and stuck. The reaction could not be stopped.
-The rods melted and the steam pressure caused a series of explosions,
which blew a hole in the roof. A fire also resulted from the explosion.
-The hot fuel particles reacted with water and caused a steam explosion,
which lifted the 1,000-metric-ton cover off the top of the reactor,
rupturing the rest of the 1,660 pressure tubes, causing a second
explosion and exposing the reactor core to the environment.
12. ● The core debris dispersed by the explosion
started multiple (more than 30) fires on the
roofs of the reactor building and the machine
hall, which were covered with highly flammable
tar.
● A first group of 14 firemen arrived on the
scene of the accident at 1.28 a.m.
Reinforcements were brought in until about 4
a.m., when 250 firemen were available and 69
firemen participated in fire control activities.
● These activities were carried out at up to 70 m
above the ground under harsh conditions of high
radiation levels and dense smoke.
● By about 4.50 a.m., most of the fires had been
extinguished. These actions caused the deaths
of five firefighters.
13. ● Approximately 20 h after the explosion, at 9.41 p.m., a large fire
started as the material in the reactor became hot enough to
ignite combustible gases released from the disrupted core, e.g.
hydrogen from zirconium-water reactions and carbon
monoxide from the reaction of hot graphite with steam.
● The large fire burned for 10 days.
● The fire made noise and burned with a large flame that reached
at least 50 m above the top of the destroyed reactor hall.
14. Why did the accident occur?
● because of the unstable state of the reactor before the accident due
both to basic engineering deficiencies and to faulty actions of
the operators (e.g., switching off the emergency safety systems of
the reactor)
● To save money, the reactor was constructed with only partial
containment, which allowed the radiation to escape. 13%-30% of the
material escaped.
● Other actions resulted in a rapid increase in the power level of
the reactor. This generated a shock wave in the cooling water,
which led to the failure of most of the lower transition joints. As a
result, the pressurized cooling water in the primary system was
released, and it immediately flashed into steam.
● The safety systems had been switched off, and the reactor was
being operated under improper, unstable conditions,
● an uncontrollable power surge to occured resulting in successive
steam explosions that severely damaged the reactor building and
completely destroyed the reactor.
15. ● The first measures taken to control the fire and the radionuclide releases
consisted of 1,800 helicopters repeatedly dumping neutron-
absorbing compounds and fire-control materials into the crater
formed by the destruction of the reactor
● later the reactor structure was cooled with liquid nitrogen using pipelines
originating from another reactor unit.
● The total amount of materials dumped on the reactor was approximately
5,000 t, including about 40 t of boron (B) compounds, 2,400 t of lead
(Pb), 1,800 t of sand (SiO2) and clay, and 600 t of dolomite
(CaMg(CO3)2), as well as sodium phosphate and polymer liquids.
● About 150 t of materials were dumped on 27 April, followed by 300t on 28
April, 750 t on 29 April, 1,500 t on 30 April, 1,900 t on 1 May, and 400 t on
2 May.
Measures taken
16. ● During the first flights, the helicopters remained
stationary over the reactor while dumping the materials.
● the dose rates received by the helicopter pilots were too
high, it was decided that the materials should be
dumped while the helicopters travelled over the reactor.
● This procedure, which had a poor accuracy, caused
additional destruction of the standing structures and
spread the contamination.
● In fact, much of the material delivered by the helicopters
was dumped on the roof of the reactor hall, where a
glowing fire was observed.
● because the reactor core was partially obstructed by
the upper biological shield, broken piping, and other
debris, and rising smoke made it difficult to see and
identify the core location.
18. Evacuation
• The accident brought about the evacuation of about 116,000 people
from areas surrounding the reactor during 1986, and the relocation, after
1986, of about 220,000 people from what were at that time three
constituent republics of the Soviet Union: Belorussia, the Russian Soviet
Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR) and Ukraine
• (these republics will hereinafter be called by their present-day country
names: Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine).
• In addition, about 240,000 workers (“liquidators”) were called upon in
1986 and 1987 to take part in major mitigation activities at the reactor and
within the 30-km zone surrounding the reactor; residual clean-up activities
continued until 1990.
• Altogether, about 600,000 persons received the special status of
“liquidator”
*liquidator: an official person or organization that is given the job of closing a company, by selling its
assets so that its debts can be paid
19. Clean Up
Approximately 300,000 to
600,000 people were involved in
the cleanup of the 30 km
evacuation zone around the
plant in the years following the
meltdown.
20. West and Northwest winds
carried radiation
NW winds from the Black Sea carried the radiation for km’s
in the following days. Scandinavian detectors picked up
on the abundance of radiation, but the Soviet
government denied any knowledge of the event.
21. MAP TO SHOW INITIAL EXTENT OF
RADIOACTIVE CLOUD (Day 1-4)
24. Effects of Radiation
○ If the human body absorbs a dose of a few of grays external
radiation, it may cause acute radiation syndrome (ARS).
○ Workers who were near the reactor at the time of the accident and
shortly afterwards received high doses of external gamma radiation,
which were fatal to some of them.
○ Belarusian doctors identify the following effects from the Chernobyl
disaster on the health of their people:
○ 100% increase in the incidence of cancer and leukemia
○ 250% increase in congenital birth deformities
○ “Chernobyl AIDS”--the term doctors are using to describe
illnesses associated with the damage done to the immune system
27. Deaths & Impact
• The initial steam explosion resulted in the deaths of two workers.
• On the day of the accident, there were 600 workers onsite. 134 plant
staff and emergency workers suffered acute radiation syndrome
(ARS) due to high doses of radiation; of those, 28 of them later died
from ARS.
• The total number of cases of thyroid cancer registered in the 1991–
2015 period among those under 18 years of age in 1986 (for the
whole of Belarus and Ukraine, and for the four most-contaminated
oblasts of the Russian Federation), approached 20,000.
• About 5,000 thyroid cancer cases were attributable to radioactive
iodine (iodine-131) exposure to those who were children or
adolescents at the time of the accident.
• The remaining 15,000 cases were cataracts, tumours, leukaemia, hair
loss, heart failures, decrease in white blood cells etc
• An estimated 8,000-20,000 to date have died (20% from
suicide)
28. ❏ The childhood thyroid gland is,
besides red bone marrow,
premenopausal female breast,
and lung, one of the most
radiosensitive organs in the body
❏ Among survivors, the most
pronounced risk of thyroid
cancer was found among those
exposed before the age of 10
years, and the highest risk was
seen 15-29 years after exposure
and was still increased 40 years
after exposure
29. • After the accident, the crippled Chernobyl 4 reactor was originally
enclosed in a concrete structure that was growing weaker over
time.
• As of November 2018, it is now encased in an enormous steel
and concrete sarcophagus which is expected to last 100 years
or more.
• problems have later arisen from the fact that the Shelter had to
be erected quickly and under very difficult conditions, partly
because the construction personnel were exposed to severe
radiation levels.
Long-term effects and responses - Containment
32. Contaminated Agricultural areas
• After the accident, the deposition of radioactive iodine
contaminated agricultural plants, grazing animals, and thus
the milk produced in parts of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and some
other parts of Europe.
• Children who had consumed milk from cows that had eaten
contaminated grass were particularly affected, and many of them
went on to develop thyroid cancer.
• After this early phase of deposition, an increasingly important
concern was plant contamination through absorption of
radioactive materials, such as caesium and strontium, from the soil
through their roots.
• For decades to come, most of the radioactive materials that
people take in through food and drink in the affected areas will be
caesium-137 present in milk, meat, and crops
33. Contaminated water bodies
• Radioactive materials from Chernobyl deposited on rivers,
lakes and some water reservoirs both in areas close to the
reactor site and in other parts of Europe.
• Fish absorbed radioactive iodine very quickly but the levels
decreased rapidly due to radioactive decay .
• Bioaccumulation of radioactive caesium along the aquatic
food chain resulted in high concentrations in fish in some lakes
as far away as Scandinavia and Germany.
• Aquatic bodies are still being contaminated by runoff of long
lived caesium-137 and strontium-90 released from
contaminated soils.
• in some “closed” lakes with no outflowing streams in Belarus,
Russia and Ukraine both water and fish will remain
contaminated with caesium-137 for decades to come.
34. •70% of total
fallout fell
on Belarus
•20% of
Belarus land
area was
evacuated
•130,000
Belarusians
evacuated
•2.5 million
Belarusians
affected
Impact on Belarus
35. The Land
⬜ 25% of the country's
farmland and forest
contaminated at a
dangerous level
⬜ 10% of the land is
unusable
⬜ 1% of the entire
land was
uncontaminated
⬜ Forests ruined
⬜ Many animals are
dying as well from
the radiation
36. ⬜ Plutonium’s half life is
24,400 years.
⬜ The 30-km radius has
been expanded into a
70-km radius, covering
a portion of southern
Belarus.
⬜ Forest/brush fires have
spread the radiation
through the air.
37. ⬜ Food & Water
◼Milk—Farmers have to watch
the radiation level in milk.
◼Fish—Cannot be eaten, as
water absorbs radiation and
fats concentrate it
The Land
◼Radioactive Floods
every spring
38. Physiological Impact
➢ The Chernobyl-exposed populations following a traumatic
accident or event: stress, depression, anxiety (including post-
traumatic stress symptoms), medically unexplained physical
symptoms, and subjective poor health.
➢ Many people were traumatized by the rapid relocation and the
breakdown in social contacts, and in the absence of reliable
information have experienced fear and anxiety about what
health effects might result.
➢ In addition, individuals in the affected population have come
to be known as "Chernobyl victims" rather than "survivors",
which encouraged them to perceive themselves as helpless,
weak and lacking control over their future, thus to take on the
role of invalid
39. Economic cost of the Chernobyl accident
○ direct damage caused by the accident.
○ expenditures related for instance to sealing off the reactor,
treating the Exclusion Zone and other affected areas,
resettling people, providing health care and social protection
for those affected, monitoring radiation, and disposing of
radioactive waste.
○ indirect costs linked to restrictions in the use of agricultural
land and forests, and to the closure of industrial and
agricultural facilities.
○ increased energy costs resulting from the closure of the
Chernobyl plant and the cancellation of Belarus’s nuclear
power programme.
The level of government spending linked to Chernobyl is a huge
burden on national budgets and is unsustainable,
40. Chernobyl Today
•The plant has been shut down by
Ukraine.
(Dec. 2000)
•The cement sarcophagus is falling
apart, due to the quick emergency
construction of it.
•The UN estimates that up to 9
million people have been affected
directly or indirectly by the fallout.
•The full consequences will not be
seen for at least another 50 years.
41. Chernobyl Today
•Hundreds of abandoned towns
•Land still very contaminated, cannot be
used for the next 20,000 years
•Most of budget goes towards medical
facilities
•Over the next 30 years, Chernobyl will
have spent a total of $235 billion on
dealing with radiation.
•Many areas will forever be radioactive.
•Radiation is still a problem, specially in
children
42. Living in the contaminated zone today…
• People must change their clothes twice a day, and may
not walk in the woods for more than two hours a month.
• Radiation level charts are printed in the newspapers and
dictate decisions such as whether children can be allowed
out to play.
• People are told to wash food at least five times in clean
water, but nobody is told where this clean water is to be
found.
• Cattle are not supposed to graze in areas where the grass
is less than 10cm high so their mouths will not touch the
earth.
• Most people find it impossible to follow these nearly
impossible instructions, so they simply give up trying.
• There are also housing shortages in Belarus and the rest
of the ex-Soviet Union. This is a problem because people
have a hard time moving out of the contaminated zone,
since there are no other places to live.
43. Signs warn against entering areas around Chernobyl
affected by high levels of radiation.
44. Measures taken
• contaminated regions of the USSR were cleaned up at great
cost.
• However, this produced a disposal problem because it created a
considerable amount of low-level radioactive waste.
• to avoid human exposure to radioactive iodine through milk, use of
"clean" fodder for cattle and rejection of contaminated milk.
• the land used for fodder crops was treated and animals were given
not only clean fodder but also chemicals that "trap" the radioactive
caesium.
• These effective but costly countermeasures have been applied less
often since the middle of the 1990s leading to increased levels of
radioactive caesium in agricultural products.
45. • Restrictions have been applied to many
forests in terms of access, hunting, and
harvesting of forest products such as
berries, mushrooms, and firewood.
• Many attempts were made to protect water
systems from radioactive materials
leaching from contaminated soils, but they
were generally ineffective and expensive.
• The most effective countermeasure was
switching to uncontaminated drinking
water supplies.
• Restrictions on consumption of freshwater
fish were only followed in some areas.
46. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant complex. Today, the destroyed
4th reactor is sheltered by a protective shield.
47. Solutions
● engineering of the plant with extensive safety features to
prevent large scale accidents
● reactors enclosed in a shield of thick concrete or lead walls
so that gamma rays don’t penetrate out
● use of water as moderator instead of graphite
● recruiting qualified employees
● extensive emergency preparedness planning, of course
accidents do happen.
● as of today there is no concept of safe nuclear energy
● alert and notification. Do not conceal the accident from
higher authorities and local population. (evacuation started
late)
48. Valery Legasov
Valery Alekseyevich Legasov was a Soviet and Russian
inorganic chemist and a member of the Academy of
Sciences of the Soviet Union
Many people credit him as the sole rational, intelligent figure involved in the problem’s
solution, as it was Legasov who was responsible for launching the immediate remedies
to Chernobyl’s long-term effects.
Valery Legasov would fly over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant 5-6 times a day. An on-
board Geiger-Muller Counter (dosimeter) with a maximum scale of 500 roentgens per
hour went off the scale
He led the commission that investigated the catastrophe.
Valery was a proponent of transparency between the
commission’s findings and the public in spite of the Soviet
government’s efforts to downplay the Chernobyl disaster.
Although it was allowed to spend a maximum of two weeks at the site, the scientist spent
4 months (!) There, and was exposed to 100 REM (Roentgen Equivalent Man) – four times
the allowed maximum of 25 REM.
The Hero!