17-05-2012, 02:45 PM
The Chernobyl Accident and its impact on Belarus
[attachment=22257]
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Located 11 miles north of the city of Chernobyl
Plant consisted of 4 reactors
Produced 10% of Ukraine’s electricity
Construction began in the 1970’s
Reactor #4 was completed in 1983
At the time of
the accident,
reactors #5
and #6 were
in progress.
What happened? cont’d
-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 an explosion, which blew a hole in the roof. A graphite fire also resulted from the explosion.
-To save money, the reactor was constructed with only partial containment, which allowed the radiation to escape. 13%-30% of the material escaped.
Immediate Impact
- 203 people were hospitalized immediately. 31 of them eventually died. Most of these people were workers in the plant or local firefighters.
- NW winds from the Black Sea carried the radiation for miles in the following days. Scandinavian detectors picked up on the abundance of radiation, but the Soviet government denied everything.
“Liquidators”
These were firemen who helped put out the fires and helped clean up the radiation
Most did not realize the dangers of radiation.
Many later died from radiation, because they didn’t wear protection.
An estimated 8,000-20,000 to date have died (20% from suicide)
Robots
United States supplied
Specifically designed to enter reactor core and help build the sarcophagus
Effects of Radiation
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
1,000% increase in suicide in the contaminated zones
“Chernobyl AIDS”--the term doctors are using to describe illnesses associated with the damage done to the immune system
The Children of Belarus
Children were much more affected by Chernobyl and the radiation, due to their weaker immune systems.
1991-1992--sickness rate among children almost tripled
Threat to gene pool—fewer children being born.
The following problems have increased in Belarusian children:
heart and circulatory diseases, malignant tumors, and disorders of the nervous system, sensory organs, of the bone, muscle and connective tissue system
Children cont’d
It is estimated that 1 out of every 4 infants in Belarus will develop thyroid abnormalities.
The normal rate of thyroid cancer would be only one in 1 million.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, had the authorities supplied the children with preventive potassium iodine, it would have prevented many of the thyroid cancer cases.
[attachment=22257]
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Located 11 miles north of the city of Chernobyl
Plant consisted of 4 reactors
Produced 10% of Ukraine’s electricity
Construction began in the 1970’s
Reactor #4 was completed in 1983
At the time of
the accident,
reactors #5
and #6 were
in progress.
What happened? cont’d
-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 an explosion, which blew a hole in the roof. A graphite fire also resulted from the explosion.
-To save money, the reactor was constructed with only partial containment, which allowed the radiation to escape. 13%-30% of the material escaped.
Immediate Impact
- 203 people were hospitalized immediately. 31 of them eventually died. Most of these people were workers in the plant or local firefighters.
- NW winds from the Black Sea carried the radiation for miles in the following days. Scandinavian detectors picked up on the abundance of radiation, but the Soviet government denied everything.
“Liquidators”
These were firemen who helped put out the fires and helped clean up the radiation
Most did not realize the dangers of radiation.
Many later died from radiation, because they didn’t wear protection.
An estimated 8,000-20,000 to date have died (20% from suicide)
Robots
United States supplied
Specifically designed to enter reactor core and help build the sarcophagus
Effects of Radiation
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
1,000% increase in suicide in the contaminated zones
“Chernobyl AIDS”--the term doctors are using to describe illnesses associated with the damage done to the immune system
The Children of Belarus
Children were much more affected by Chernobyl and the radiation, due to their weaker immune systems.
1991-1992--sickness rate among children almost tripled
Threat to gene pool—fewer children being born.
The following problems have increased in Belarusian children:
heart and circulatory diseases, malignant tumors, and disorders of the nervous system, sensory organs, of the bone, muscle and connective tissue system
Children cont’d
It is estimated that 1 out of every 4 infants in Belarus will develop thyroid abnormalities.
The normal rate of thyroid cancer would be only one in 1 million.
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, had the authorities supplied the children with preventive potassium iodine, it would have prevented many of the thyroid cancer cases.