Where is Chernobyl? 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
-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.
Effects of Radiation:
Belarusian doctors identify the following effects from the Chernobyl disaster on the health of their people:
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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,...