Some places on earth are extremely radioactive and should be avoided, as they pose a high risk to health. Radioactive substances are extremely harmful to the environment, animals and human beings. They cause a lot of diseases and body defects in people and animals which have been exposed to radioactive contamination. In fact, you would be shocked to see the effects of radionuclides. These 8 places are the most radioactive on Earth – read on to find out more:
Fukushima, , Japan
In 2011, a terrible tsunami and earthquake destroyed live and homes of many people on Japan. But the worst fallout was the melt down of three reactors of the Fukushima plant, which leaked an enormous amount of radiation in the sea and surrounding areas. Radioactive material was found 200 miles away from the plant. The Fukushima meltdown is considered to be the worst since Chernobyl.
Chernobyl, Ukraine
Chernobyl is the place where a nuclear accident of massive proportions took place. The resulting radiation affected 6 million innocent people, and the number of deaths is expected to be almost 93,000. The accident released radiation which was 100 times more than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs. Belarus was the worst affected and its people have been dealing with increase in different kinds of cancer. There is an Exclusion Zone of 2,600 sq km surrounding the Chernobyl plant, where radioactivity is highest. Inhabitants’ and public access is restricted in this area.
Sellafield, UK
Sellafield is on the western coast of England and was a facility which produced plutonium for nuclear bombs, but later the plutonium was used for commercial purposes. Hundreds of accidents have occurred at Sellafield, and 2/3rds of the buildings have now been classified as nuclear waste. The plant releases a mind boggling 8 million liters of nuclear waste daily in the sea. This has turned Irish Sea into the sea which is the most radioactive on earth.
Mayak, Russia
Mayak is considered to be the third most disastrous nuclear event, after Fukushima and Chernobyl. The Kyshtym nuclear disaster occurred due to the blast at the Siberian Chemical Combine, and released about 100 tons of nuclear waste, which was dumped in Lake Karachay, and nearby areas. This has caused the water to be polluted by radioactive contaminants and proves to be a danger to people and animals living in the surrounding areas.
Hanford, USA
Hanford, Washington was the site where the US manufactured plutonium for its atom bombs – the ‘Fat Man’, with which it bombed Nagasaki, during World War II. During the cold war, the facility increased production of plutonium for 60,000 nuclear weapons. It’s has been decommissioned now, but it contains 2/3rds of US’ highly radioactive waste, both in solid and liquid form. It contaminated 200 sq miles of groundwater, making Hanford the most radioactive place in USA.
Somalian Coast
A particular section of Italian mafia is alleged to dump toxic metals, nuclear waste and radioactive hospital rubbish in Somalian land and waters, areas which do not enjoy protection from the government. After the Tsunami of 2004, which threw up barrels of nuclear waste, it was believed that Somalian waters have been used as a dumping ground for nuclear waste since the 90s, making it extremely radioactive.
Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan
The radiation at Mailuu-Suu is not due to nuclear power plants or bombs, but due to mining for uranium, which is one of the minerals required during the production of nuclear bombs. Mailuu-Suu was the site of a uranium mining and processing facility. It now has 1.96 million cubic meters of Uranium waste. The danger is in the seismic zone, and there is the danger of a radioactive fallout during an earthquake.
NASA, Simi Valley laboratory, California
NASA’s laboratory in Simi Valley has been compromised due to radioactive fires affecting ten nuclear reactors. This led to radioactive contamination of the site, making it highly dangerous for people around, though cleanup is in progress at the site.
Release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere affects all forms of life- the environment is polluted, human beings and animals suffer from diseases and physical deformities and the places which are worst affected will continue to be in danger for years to come.
