The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred on April 26, 1986 in what is now known as the Ukraine. The disaster involved a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The result of the reactor explosion included many human and environmental tolls, especially due to radiation. To this day there remains a Chernobyl Exclusion Zone which is unable to be lived in.
Two scientists have taken nearly four years to study the Exclusion Zone in terms of wildlife biodiversity. Doctor Anders Moller from the University of Paris, France and Professor Timothy Mousseau from the University of South Carolina worked on the study together. Their recent findings regarding the biodiversity of the area has been published in the journal Ecological Indicators.
The two scientists felt it was important to establish the impact such a disaster has on local wildlife more than twenty years later. The years of research in the Exclusion Zone were between 2006 and 2009. Professor Mousseau stated: “If society is ever to learn more about the long term environmental consequences of large scale accidents- and Chernobyl is just one of several- it is important that we all take our responsibilities seriously.”
The two compared their wildlife census in the Exclusion Zone to other similar areas. They found that the radiation impacts significantly decreased the biodiversity in the surrounding area of Chernobyl. Mousseau stated: “The truth is that the radiation contamination effects were so large as to be overwhelming.”
Birds appear to have suffered the greatest due to the radiation, which according to the scientists may be due to their migrations increasing their susceptibility to stress. Birds have been found with tumors on various parts of their bodies, including their necks, near their eyes and on their feet.
Some scientists object to Mousseau and Moller’s findings, stating that the area has shown resistance and has bounced back from the disaster. Documentaries have also been done on the area declaring the zone to be rebounding. However, Mousseau believes such media attention will incorrectly portray the area and decrease the likelihood of learning from such disasters.
