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The Chernobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986, resulting in the evacuation of the city of Pripyat, although the animals continued to reside in the region. After more than 35 years, certain species have flourished, while others have faced significant consequences, and even new species have been introduced. But how did these animals respond to radiation exposure? What were the effects of living in and around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone?
Click on to learn more about the animals that call Chernobyl their home.
A study conducted in 2019 has provided further evidence indicating that the local wolf population does not possess internal radiation. Because the animals travel long distances to hunt, they end up not eating that much contaminated prey. The research also revealed that the wolves were exposed to higher-than-expected levels of external radiation, although the impact on the animals remains uncertain.
In 1990 alone, about 400 deformed farm animals were born in the area. Four years after the disaster, animals were being born with several deformities, including malformation of the head and extra limbs.
These deformities also influenced the size of the animals and their color. It is possible that these mutations have occurred in other animals in the area, but the numbers are not documented.
The effects of exposure to high levels of radiation doesn't manifest until years later. A 2007 study found that the rate of thyroid cancer in people living in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia was 10 times higher than usual, this 10 years after the nuclear accident. Cattle also suffered the consequences.
The effects on cattle manifested as early as five months after the accident. Animals that were within six miles (9.6 km) of the accident site showed signs of thyroid damage.
A significant number of people who were forced to leave their homes in the exclusion zone chose to abandon their pets, resulting in a notable increase in the population of stray dogs and cats.
Efforts were made to exterminate the stray dog population in the region, but Clean Futures, an organization, successfully intervened in 2017. Now, the population is managed, with dogs being sterilized and vaccinated.
After the nuclear incident, a study conducted in 2011 examined the brain size of 550 birds from 48 species residing in the area.
A study discovered that birds exposed to higher radiation had brains about 5% smaller than average. Similar impact has been observed in humans exposed to high radiation levels.
The impacts of radiation may not be obvious, but they do have an impact on animals in various ways. As an example, barn swallows in the exclusion zone experienced alterations in their fertility.
A study discovered that approximately 40% of the sperm from male barn swallows in Chernobyl is faulty. Additionally, they detected germline mutations, a specific kind of mutation that can arise within sperm (or egg) and be inherited by subsequent generations through genes.
Following the Chernobyl accident, there was an observed rise in partial albinism among barn swallows and other bird species. These albino birds are typically smaller in size and may possess weak immune systems.
In 2013, a study examined 1,669 birds and discovered 111 instances of partial albinism and 25 tumors.
According to a study conducted in 2016, the population of bird species in the region has decreased by approximately 50% since the nuclear incident in 1986.
The study's findings reveal a decrease of approximately 66% in the number of individual members within each bird species.
The nuclear accident resulted in a decrease in the number of bugs and spiders in the area. This decline in the insect population has led to a decrease in food availability for various species such as birds, fish, and certain mammals.
In 2009, a study discovered a link between the amount of radiation in an area and the size of the insect population. Surprisingly, insects are equally susceptible to radiation like other species.
Pollinators are crucial for the ecosystem, as they enable the blooming of around 75% of global flowers and the production of food from approximately 35% of food crops worldwide.
A decline in pollinators was observed in the vicinity of the Chernobyl disaster. In 2020, a study examined the impact of radiation levels on bees by replicating the levels experienced in the affected area during that period. The findings revealed adverse effects on bee reproduction and a decrease in colony growth.
The nuclear accident at Chernobyl also impacted rodents, causing damage to their eyes as well.
Bank voles in the exclusion zone were discovered to have high rates of cataracts, which negatively impacted both their vision and reproductive capabilities. Female voles with cataracts were observed to have smaller litters compared to their healthy counterparts.
The impact of the Chernobyl disaster primarily affected animals residing in the exclusion zone. However, it is believed that radiation dispersed throughout Europe and even reached Sweden.
In 2017, a wild boar hunted in Sweden was discovered to have radiation levels 10 times higher than the safe limit.
Despite the damaging impact of radiation, the exclusion zone has transformed into a sanctuary for certain species, such as the endangered Przewalski's horses.
These horses were introduced in the area between 1998 and 2004, and seem to have adapted pretty well.
The greater spotted eagle, an endangered species, thrives in the area with a minimum of 13 pairs residing in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Nonetheless, a scientific review conducted in 2016 found that there's a lack of evidence that supports the fact that animals that've been exposed to radiation are, in fact, healthy.
According to the review: "Numerous organisms have shown an ability to survive and reproduce under low-dose ionizing radiation arising from natural background radiation or from nuclear accidents. In a literature review, we found a total of 17 supposed cases of adaptation, mostly based on common garden experiments with organisms only deriving from typically two or three sampling locations. We only found one experimental study showing evidence of improved resistance to radiation."
The review concludes: "Finally, we examined studies for the presence of hormesis (i.e. superior fitness at low levels of radiation compared with controls and high levels of radiation), but found no evidence to support its existence. We conclude that rigorous experiments based on extensive sampling from multiple sites are required".
Sources: (Grunge)
Chernobyl's legacy of radioactive animals
Did you know that the radiation affected animals as far away as Sweden?
messages.DAILYMOMENT Radioactivity
The Chernobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986, resulting in the evacuation of the city of Pripyat, although the animals continued to reside in the region. After more than 35 years, certain species have flourished, while others have faced significant consequences, and even new species have been introduced. But how did these animals respond to radiation exposure? What were the effects of living in and around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone?
Click on to learn more about the animals that call Chernobyl their home.