College of Engineering

Name of Student: Karl Jezreel T. Camarao Year/Section : BSMEC4-A

Subject: Environmental Sscience
QUIZ NO. 2 2ND SEMESTER

Give the full description, cause, problem delivered, and the given solution of the following
environmental problem man made phenomena.

a. Chernobyl Disaster : ( Nuclear pollution)

Cause Efects
On April 26, 1986, the Number Four RBMK Radiation effects on humans
reactor at the nuclear power plant at
Chernobyl, Ukraine, went out of control
during a test at low-power, leading to an
explosion and fire that demolished the
reactor building and released large amounts
of radiation into the atmosphere. Safety
measures were ignored, the uranium fuel in
the reactor overheated and melted through
the protective barriers.
BMK reactors do not have what is known as a Long-term impacts
containment structure, a concrete and steel The impact of the disaster on the
dome over the reactor itself designed to keep surrounding forest and wildlife also remains
radiation inside the plant in the event of such an area of active research. In the immediate
an accident. Consequently, radioactive aftermath of the accident, an area of about
elements including plutonium, iodine, four square miles became known as the “Red
strontium and caesium were scattered over a Forest” because so many trees turned
wide area. reddish-brown and died after absorbing high
levels of radiation.

In addition, the graphite blocks used as a
moderating material in the RBMK caught fire
at high temperature as air entered the
reactor core, which contributed to emission
of radioactive materials into the
environment.
The economic and political toll hastened the
end of the USSR and fueled a global anti-
nuclear movement. The disaster has been
estimated to cost some $235 billion in
damages.
Solution Made
Between May and November 1986, a Shelter was built to contain the damaged reactor,
reduce the radiation levels on-site, and prevent further release of radioactive material.
The overall plan for the long term development of the Exclusion Zone is to make the less
affected areas available for use by the public.
The authorities of the Soviet Union and, later, of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) introduced many short and long term environmental countermeasures to deal with the
consequences of the accident. This involved huge human, financial and scientific resources.