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Fauna
Chernobyl Radiological Impact on Fauna
The radioactive shock when the Chernobyl reactor exploded in 1986 combined with chronic low-dose contamination has resulted in morphologic, physiologic, and genetic disorders in every animal species that has been studied ...mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.
Chernobyl populations exhibit morphological deformities
These populations exhibit a wide variety of morphological deformities not found in other populations. Despite reports of a “healthy” environment in proximity to Chernobyl for rare species of birds and mammals, the presence of such wildlife is likely the result of immigration and not from locally sustained populations.
Chernobyl populations of contaminated animal species: birds, mammals, amphibians, fish
Twenty-three years after the catastrophe levels of incorporated radionuclides remain dangerously high for mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish in some areas of Europe. Mutation rates in animal populations in contaminated territories are significantly higher and there is transgenerational genomic instability in animal populations, manifested in adverse cellular and systemic effects.
Significant increases in morbidity and mortality that bear a striking resemblance to changes in the health of humans
Long-term observations of both wild and experimental animal populations in the heavily contaminated areas show significant increases in morbidity and mortality that bear a striking resemblance to changes in the health of humans—increased occurrence of tumor and immunodeficiencies, decreased life expectancy, early aging, changes in blood and the circulatory system, malformations, and other factors that compromise health.
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Flora
Chernobyl Radiological Impact on Flora
Plants and mushrooms accumulate the Chernobyl radionuclides at a level that depends upon the soil, the climate, the particular biosphere, the season, spotty radioactive contamination, and the particular species and populations (subspecies, cultivars), etc.
Chernobyl levels of radionuclide accumulation in different species of plants includes: Sr-90, Am-241, Cs-137, Ce-144, Pu-238, Pu-239 & Pu-240
Each radionuclide has its own accumulation characteristics (e. g., levels of accumulation for Sr-90 are much higher than for Cs-137, and a thousand times less than that for Ce-144).
Coefficients of accumulation and transition ratios vary so much in time and space that it is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the actual levels of Cs-137, Sr-90, Pu-238, Pu239, Pu-240, and Am-241 at each place and time and for each individual plant or fungus.
Chernobyl irradiation causes structural anomalies & tumor-like changes in plant species
Chernobyl irradiation has caused structural anomalies and tumorlike changes in many plant species. Unique pathologic complexes are seen in the Chernobyl zone, such as a high percentage of anomalous pollen grains and spores.
Chernobyl irradiation leads to genetic disorders
Chernobyl’s irradiation has led to genetic disorders, sometimes continuing for many years, and it appears that it has awakened genes that have been silent over a long evolutionary time.
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