Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Chernobyl: 20 years on

The Chernobyl reactor today, from Daniel Cuthbert

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster . There is alot of research on the consequences of this disaster . The health consequnces to people are well known although there is some controversy about the magnitude of these effects but there is also research on the effects on wildlife. The animals did not have the opportunity to flee so provide a fascinating place to study the effects of radiation on various organisms. Tim Mousseau’s Lab has lots of information about Chernobyl and several interesting papers to download:

Biological consequences of Chernobyl: 20 years after the disaster (PDF) - an excellent recent review.

Albinism and phenotype of barn swallows Hirundo rustica from Chernobyl (PDF)

Mutation and sexual selection: A test using barn swallows from Chernobyl (PDF)

Condition, reproduction and survival of barn swallows from Chernobyl (PDF)

See also:

In Focus : Chernobyl (IAEA)

Chernobyl's continuing hazards (BBC)

The Chernobyl disaster (BBC)

Chernobyl's lost city, Daniel Cuthbert, the abandoned city of Pripyat, Ghost Town, (photos)

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