Russian wild fires could spread radioactive dust from Chernobyl
The Russian Emergencies Minister is warning of possible radiation risks, as wildfires approach closer to the area affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, according to Russia Today. The main fear is that the fires, which are moving further south of Moscow toward the Bryansk region, could disturb and spread the contamination buried in the ground after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Contaminated soil could be lofted into the air and carried in the wind contaminating more areas. Multiple crews have been dispatched to try to prevent the fires spreading there.
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Officials from Russia’s federal forest protection service confirmed that fires were burning at contaminated sites on Tuesday, and expressed fears that lax oversight as a result of recent changes in the forestry service could increase the chances that radioactive smoke would waft into populated areas. The New York Times.
“This is not a repeat of Chernobyl," Vladimir Chuprov, head of the energy program at Greenpeace Russia,i is quoted to say, adding the Russian authorities in the Bryansk region had cordoned off the contaminated forests. Greenpeace Russia however added that government authorities are downplaying the threat rather than admit the real risks from wildfires resuspending and spreading the radioactive contamination.
Meanwhile, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had no comment on health concerns from radioactive smoke.