Chernobyl land deemed safe for farming in groundbreaking study
Scientists confirm that the lands around Chernobyl can be cultivated again. Research shows that the radiation level is lower than in many regions of the world. A special protocol has been developed to calculate the absorption of elements by plants such as potatoes and grains.
Key information
- New studies indicate that the lands around Chernobyl are safe enough for cultivation.
- Scientists have developed a method to assess radioactive contamination for plants.
- The possibility of cultivating 20,000 hectares of land in the exclusion zone.
The area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant may soon become a site for agricultural cultivation. Scientists from Ukraine and the United Kingdom conducted studies indicating that thousands of hectares are now safe enough for reuse, reports National Geographic.
A research team from the University of Portsmouth and the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology developed a protocol for assessing radioactive contamination. With it, it's possible to calculate the absorption of radioactive elements by plants, such as potatoes, maize, sunflowers, or grains. Tests on a 100-hectare field showed that the radiation level is lower than in many regions of the world.
Professor Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth emphasises that the research results can help combat misinformation about radiation risks in the Chernobyl region. The discovery may also contribute to the revitalisation of the areas and improve Ukraine's food security.
The research team estimates that it is possible to safely cultivate 20,000 hectares of land in the exclusion zone, reports National Geographic. This discovery opens new opportunities for the region, which for years was seen as dangerous and unusable.
The Chernobyl disaster. Exclusion zone as a wildlife habitat
The disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant occurred during the night of 25-26 April 1986, in reactor number 4. The accident led to the overheating of the reactor core and an explosion. It was the largest disaster in the history of nuclear energy and one of the largest industrial disasters of the 20th century.
As a result of the complete destruction of the reactor, an area from 125,000 to 145,000 square kilometres was contaminated with radiation. Up to 350,000 people were evacuated and resettled. It's estimated that about 30 people died in the firefighting operation, but due to radiation-related illnesses, as many as 200,000 people may have lost their lives.
The exclusion zone extended 30 kilometres in radius. Some residents returned to Chernobyl and were called "samosyly". The zone became a haven for wildlife - wolves, bison, and lynxes have been observed.
