Table of Contents 64q43
In the early hours of April 26, 1986, a safety test at the Chernobyl – added to a series of human errors – triggered an explosion that would change the history of humanity. Tons of radioactive material were thrown into the air, contaminating an area of more than 1000 km². The plant is located in Ucrania, 194 km from the capital, Kiev. h6h44
At the time, still under the Soviet regime, the government tried to cover up what had happened. More than 24 hours later, nuclear power plants in Sweden – which is more than a thousand kilometers away – detected a high level of radiation in the air, with materials that were not produced there. The Soviets continued to deny what had happened, but it wasn't long before the international community got wind of it.
what is radiation r49y
To better understand the facts of Chernobyl, it is important to understand how the power generation procedure in a nuclear power plant works. The chemical process known as radiation is one of the foundations of this understanding. It consists of the emission and propagation of energy by electromagnetic waves.
In the case of the power plant Chernobyl, they used a type of unstable uranium to generate large amounts of heat (fission). This heat evaporates the water and forces large turbines to spin creating electrical energy. In Brazil most of the energy is generated by hydroelectric plants, which are large dams that turn the turbine with the natural force of the water. So in times of little rain, the bill is usually much more expensive.
The problem is that the elements used in nuclear power plants are highly toxic, taking thousands of years to dissipate. In these cases we are talking about ionizing radiation – which has enough energy to rip electrons from atoms, causing instability.
The unit of measurement for ing for the level of radiation is called the sieverts. 2 sieverts are enough to kill a person in a few days, causing burns, nausea and tumors. Non-ionizing radiation is not toxic to people. Rocks, soil, electronic devices and even bananas also emit radiation, but in the case of these objects the charge is no more than 0,2 microsieverts (emphasis on micro).
With the advancement of science, we were able to use radioactivity to our advantage. When an X-ray is taken, for example, another type of radiation is used that is not aggressive to human beings. In addition to diagnosis, it is used in cancer treatments in the radiotherapy process.
Chernobyl and the aftermath 24x6e
After the explosion, thousands of people worked for months to contain the contamination. Those who stayed close to the accident site were the most exposed, dying a few days after the contagion. Pripyat, a city built to house the plant's workers and their families, had to be evacuated in a hurry.
Due to the government's delay in assuming the seriousness of the problem, the 100 thousand people who lived in Pripyat they only had 40 minutes to pack their belongings. Currently, it is known as a “ghost town” and has become a tourist spot in the region. Obviously, only certain places can be visited, accompanied by a guide and suitable materials.
Sand and boron were thrown at the site to contain the fire, which only went out after two weeks. A massive concrete structure was built around the reactor to stop the spread from continuing. Nicknamed the “Sarcófago”, the structure was only ready in December 1986, eight months after the explosion. In 2016, another structure was placed at the plant to contain the waste for at least a century.
Brazil also reported the tragedy at the time. Estimating that the death toll was 2000, according to information from American intelligence. Meanwhile, the USSR claimed that only two people had died. This confusion of information was caused by the countries' rivalry in the Cold War and the lack of transparency of the Soviets. See the National Journal report below:
To this day, Europe and Russia suffer the consequences of the accident in Chernobyl. An area of over XNUMX km² is still uninhabitable. The level of radiation is measured in cultivated food, and over the years the number of children with cancer has increased considerably. The correct number of deaths is not yet known, as the long-term effects are devastating.
A report released by the Green Peace, in 2006, estimates that of the 2 billion people affected worldwide, 270 developed some type of cancer and 93 died from the disease. As this data is old, it only gives us an idea of what the disaster caused 20 years later. Today, that number would probably be much higher.
Three years after the tragedy, in 1989, the World Association of Nuclear Operators was created. Based in London, the institution aims to monitor and prevent disasters like Chernobyl from happening again. Every year they prepare a report with the number of plants built, under construction, amount of energy produced and other data.
Other accidents in history 19493c
Three Mile Island 1o5s2q
Located in the state of Pennsylvania, in the United States, the accident at the Three Mile Island occurred on March 28, 1979. Followed by human error and design errors, the plant's number 2 reactor overheated causing the core to melt. It took five days to contain the spill, which fortunately did not cause fatalities.
Fukushima 6u76i
In March 2011 an 8,7 magnitude earthquake struck the Japanese coast. A tsunami formed and damaged one of the reactors at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant 1. About 20 km of territory around the plant was evacuated. The level of scattered radiation was as severe as Chernobyl, however, there were no fatalities. The tsunami, however, left around 20 dead or missing.
cesium 137 5l7069
O Brazil was also the protagonist of a radioactive accident. In Goiânia, in 1987, two garbage collectors found a radiotherapy device. The device contained highly radioactive chemicals in powder form – cesium chloride. The collectors sold the device to a junkyard, where the owner (delighted by the substance's shine) distributed it to family and neighbors.
11 people died and more than 600 were infected. It is estimated that more than 100 people were affected by the exposure.
Brazil and the world in the nuclear scenario y2s13
Even with catastrophic consequences, nuclear energy does not seem to intimidate the industry. Currently, according to the energy bulletin of FGV Engenharia, there are 448 reactors nuclear plants operating in 30 countries. And that number is only going to increase.
Brazil has two reactors in operation, Angra 1 and Angra 2, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. In 2017, the reactors generated just over 2,5% of the energy consumed in the country. A shy number compared to or Russia, for example. A third reactor, Angra 3, has been under construction for over 35 years and its work has been stalled by several corruption cases that even involve former president Michel Temer.
activists of Green Peace are totally against the construction of new nuclear facilities in Brazil. In addition to accidents that can occur as in Chernobyl, the entity warns about the handling of atomic waste. The protests gained strength in 2011, after the case of Fukushima.
A , which would supply equipment for the completion of the Brazilian work, was one of the countries that, also in 2011, signed a commitment to deactivate all plants by 2022.
Nuclear energy experts argue that it is fundamental to the country's development. Adriano Pires, director of the Brazilian Infrastructure Center (CBIE), reinforces that measures to reduce environmental impacts are one of the main points of planning. He says that nuclear plants are cheap sources, generate jobs during construction and produce energy continuously, without depending on the volume of rainfall.
“The advantage of using uranium as an energy source is its high energy concentration. One kilogram of natural uranium or twenty-five grams of enriched uranium, which corresponds to twenty tons of coal or ten tons of oil, produces 50.000 kWh.”
Adriano Pires, director of the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure (CBIE), for the Energy Sector Conjuncture Bulletin at FGV
In certain places nuclear energy is not only an environmental issue, but also an ethical one. In extreme cold regions such as Armenia e Russia, the energy generated by nuclear plants becomes fundamental for the survival of the population. In winter, the Russian people can face temperatures of up to minus 40 degrees.
Chernobyl: the series 1s5n33
“What is the cost of lying?” It was with this premise that the 5-episode miniseries, Chernobyl, premiered on May 6 on HBO. The production is a partnership with the British channel Sky Atlantic and will have its conclusion next Monday, the 3rd. Created by Craig Mazin (writer of The Huntsman and the Ice Queen, 2016), the series is focused on the decisions made behind the scenes of the Soviet government that led to the deaths of thousands of citizens. .
According to Craig, Chernobyl is a docudrama (term used for films and series with strong similarities to real history) that reproduces in detail all the sacrifices made by the population to stop radiation. With a dark tone, it focuses on several real characters who were part of different layers of the story.
During the episodes, we follow from the firefighters who gave their lives to put out the fire to the scientists who, against all odds, investigated in depth the reasons for this tragedy. The screenwriter revealed in interviews that he read incessantly about the subject to answer the following question: Why? For Craig, the fact that the accident took place on a safety test is both ironic and fascinating.
"When you ask someone what happened to the Titanic, anyone can explain it, but almost no one knows how and why Chernobyl exploded."
Craig Mazin, creator of the HBO miniseries Chernobyl
The cast includes Jared Harris (The Expanse), Stellan Skarsgård (Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, 2018), Emily Watson (The Book Stealer, 2013) and Donald Sumpter (Maester Luwin, from Game of Thrones).
Chernobyl has already become a critical success, occupying the first place of the best rated series in the IMDB. The production sured fan favorites like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad with a score of 9,7. The accolades he has been accumulating are demonstrated in a tense, consistent and agonizing story. Being an ideal opportunity for anyone who wants to know more about one of the biggest disasters caused by man.
“When people choose to lie and believe the lie. Everyone enters into a kind of ive conspiracy to promote it. We can get away with it for a long time, but the truth doesn't care."
Craig Mazin, creator of the HBO miniseries Chernobyl
