The Chernobyl tragedy is the largest peacetime radiation catastrophe that has ever occurred on this planet. Considered to be the worst manmade nuclear disaster in world history, the human dimensions of the Chernobyl nuclear explosion are vast and heartbreaking. The Chernobyl nuclear accident is a global environmental event which has left thousands of refugees and long term contamination of the land, water and air.
- On April 26, 1986 at 1:23 AM, a nuclear explosion took place in Reactor Number 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant located in Ukraine.
- 190 Tons of highly radioactive materials were released into the atmosphere. Scientists estimate that the amount of radionucleides released into the environment is equal to the effect of twenty nuclear bombs.
Despite the fact that the accident occurred in 1986, its subsequent problems have not disappeared. In many cases they have become worse. Much time has passed since the day of the accident and for those who did not personally face the disaster it may seem that the Chernobyl problem has lost its topicality. The biggest catastrophe of the century is increasingly forgotten; and is often considered as something belonging to the past, but it is not so for the people of the region.
Many radioactive elements appear to have the same composition as the natural and vital minerals that our bodies need. For example:
- Plutonium is the most toxic nuclear element that man has produced; it does not exist in nature except as a result of a nuclear reaction. The body recognizes plutonium as it would iron thus it is absorbed into the red blood cells and muscles. It may cause blood disorders, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other forms of cancer.
- Caesium 137 behaves as potassium and is incorporated into rapidly growing cells throughout the body. Heavy concentrations may lead to gastrointestinal and blood problems.
- Iodine 131 is concentrated in the thyroid gland especially during periods of rapid growth. Radioactive iodine is responsible for the marked increase in cancer of the thyroid that has been seen in children.
- Strontium 90 is similar to calcium and becomes part of the bone structure. Types of bone and bone marrow cancers may be the result.