April 26th, 1986. You are a Soviet nuclear scientist completing a series of safety tests in a nuclear plant just after midnight, and everything seems to be going according to plan. Little do you know that within a few hours, the entirety of the facility will be in disarray, and what was thought to be impossible will happen. These are the hours leading up to the Chernobyl disaster, the moments that preceded one of the most unprecedented nuclear power plant disasters in modern history.
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occured in Northern Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union. Many consider it to be the worst nuclear disaster in history, in both the cost of human life and of monetary assets. Within three months, 30 operators and firemen had died as a direct result of the accident, which involved the destruction of the Chernobyl 4 reactor. In a desperate attempt to put out the fires and seal away the radioactive materials leaking from the plant, over 400,000 people were sent in as a cleanup team. Inadequately protected and equipped, many received unhealthy doses of radiation. Though hard to determine, it is estimated that over 4,000 fatalities occurred as a result of radiation poisoning in the vicinity of Chernobyl.
Though the accident at Chernobyl occured over 36 years ago, it still remains the focal point for arguments against the usage of nuclear power as a source of energy. Some believe that the dangerous and unstable side of nuclear power plants, combined with the potential impact on surrounding populations, ultimately outweigh its benefits as an energy source. However, others disagree. They point out that the Chernobyl disaster happened due to a series of shortcomings on the part of the inexperienced crew in charge that night, as well as the lack of initiative in the plant's management in response to the accident. They argue that nuclear power plants should be used, but with proper safety measures and training first. The debate about whether or not the rewards of nuclear energy are worth its risks still goes on to this day, especially with other nuclear accidents (like the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster) attracting more negative media attention.
With the invasion of Ukraine, questions about the safety of another power plant in Southeast Ukraine, called the Zaporizhzhia plant, have arisen. The plant was first attacked and captured by Russian forces on the 4th of March, eliciting widespread worry over the security of the plant's technology and equipment. Although no reports suggest that radioactive materials were leaked or released, many still fear that the destruction inflicted by the war could eventually affect the security of the power plants, as well as their surrounding populace.
Sources:
Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, September 10). Chernobyl disaster. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster
Chernobyl Accident 1986. Chernobyl | Chernobyl Accident | Chernobyl Disaster - World Nuclear Association. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Chernobyl disaster. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Chernobyl-disaster
Ukraine: Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Energy. Ukraine: Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Energy - World Nuclear Association. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-t-z/ukraine-russia-war-and-nuclear-energy.aspx
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