The whole world knows about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion. Its scale and consequences are still the largest in human history. What makes this disaster even more dramatic is that the explosion was caused by humans. The deaths and destruction are the cost of lies that we, people, are telling.
In this article, we will tell you about the cost of lies in Chernobyl, with the hope that you will learn the lessons of the past.
What Is the Cost of Lies in Chernobyl?
According to the researches of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, there are three main aspects of life that we can analyze when talking about the consequences of the disaster and overall cost of lies. To begin with, hundreds of people have died right after the explosion. The second aspect is nature, plants, and animals that were affected by the radiation. In the end, the long-term effects on the environment. Let’s analyze all aspects of the costs of lies in Chernobyl.
Deaths Cost of Lies in Chernobyl
We still don’t know the exact number of people who died as a result of an explosion. Firstly, only a small amount of them understood that they were in danger, so they died without being treated properly. Secondly, the Soviet Union authorities were concealing the correct data connected to the explosion.
According to the official data that is available now, around 500 people died as the result of the explosion during the first week after the accident.
Nature Cost of Lies in Chernobyl
The region of Chernobyl was always full of animals. It was swampland, so there were unique animals. However, all of them were killed by radiation or its prevention measures. Zoologists estimate that the animals returned to the exclusion zone only 5 years after the explosion when the level of radiation became lower and the animals managed to adapt to its effects.
Now, the animals of Chernobyl are numerous. Humans don’t live there, and the poachers don’t like to hunt in dangerous environments, so wildlife can flourish. There are endangered animals there, like brown bears, bison, lynx, wolves, deer, moose, beavers, foxes, badgers, raccoon dogs, and wild boars.
Plants
As for the vegetation in the region, it is also flourishing. The plants are taking over the concrete buildings and constructions. Nature is typical there, so you can find oak, elm, birch, hornbeam, and ash.
Long-Term Cost of Lies in Chernobyl
In the long run, the territory around the nuclear power plant is dangerous for human life. Vast territories are empty now, and it is dangerous to be there, especially in some particular places. The number of cancer cases among Ukrainians, Russians, and Belarussians has rocketed. The river Pripyat is now dangerous, but with it being a confluent of Dnipro, the main river of Ukraine, the toxic radioactive elements are transferred to all parts of the country.
Cost of Lies We Don’t Know
However, humans don’t seem to learn the lessons of the past. In Ukraine alone, other nuclear power plants are functioning without the dangerous mistake being corrected. The constructional fault has been made at every nuclear power plant of the Soviet Union. After the Chernobyl accident, it has been corrected, but not everywhere.
The model for all reactors was aimed at power output rather than safety, so the cost of lies on the power plant is connected with this. The emergency shutdown system, before stopping the reactor, raised its power. Employers were not aware of this fault, so they pressed the AZ-5 (complete stop) button. It resulted in the explosion.
If the power plant employees would have known about this feature, the accident could have been avoided. The cost of lies of constructors and authorities are dramatic. We need to learn the lessons and never make the same mistakes.