The horses might've come back, but how safe is it really?
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In
the wake of the horrendous 1986 Chernobyl incident, both long- and short-term
human health effects became primary concern for the world community. The effects from the radioactive
contamination on humans were (and still are) devastating, widespread and often
under-reported. Winds carried the
radioactive particles far across the continent, spreading the risk of mutation
all across Europe and Western Asia, even as Chernobyl’s meltdown was being criminally
unreported (hidden, actually) by Soviet media.
However, the effects on humans were but one facet of the danger posed by
the historic accident.
Animal
rescue during disasters inevitably takes the back seat to human safety, but it
should undoubtedly be a concern for responders.
In the case of Chernobyl, many animals important to humans were affected
including livestock. Many cows
accumulated radioactive particles in their meat and milk, leading to increased
radioactive risk for people consuming the milk.
A ban was soon instituted and livestock was removed from affected areas. However, even animals not immediately relevant
to humans posed threats to health beyond the immediately affected area. Some
biologists and ecologists consider the mutations present in migratory birds (including
barn swallows) as posing risks to the entire gene pool when they interbreed
with individuals outside the directly affected radiation zone.[1] Other animals have experienced serious detrimental
effects on their physiology. For
example, many birds in Chernobyl’s vicinity have decreased brain size in their
populations. Scientists have determined
a negative relationship between increased levels of background radiation and relative
brain size in these species.[2] Additionally, invertebrate species, including
insects, have experienced decreased abundance near the site. Again, scientists have established an inverse
relationship between increased background radiation and prevalence of
invertebrate species.[3] The cascade effects on local ecology when
primary heterotrophs like insects are seriously affected can be dramatic,
considering they make up the base of the food chain.
The effects on local and migratory animals is widespread
as well, although the cumulative legacy of the nuclear disaster on the area’s
fauna is complicated and not completely negative. Since humans have completely evacuated from
large swaths of land surrounding Chernobyl, the habitat (radiated or not not) remains
open and uninhibited by human development.
This has led to a massive resurgence in the biodiversity of the area
since many previously extirpated species like wolves and lynx have been able to
thrive without human intervention. The “exclusion
zone” has essentially turned into a wildlife preserve. While the animals have resurged in numbers,
the looming and inescapable effects of radiation, such as the decreased brain
size in birds.
Tim
Mousseau, an ecologist studying the radiation effects of Chernobyl, stated: "One
of the great ironies of this particular tragedy is that many animals are doing
considerably better than when the humans were there."[4]
As humans, we need to respond to disasters with concern
for both fellow humans’ safety, but also animals’. More importantly though is to avoid the
disasters in the first place. Chernobyl
is a glaring example of the devastating effects we can have on both people and
animals from careless handling of inherently dangerous technology.
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