Is the Chornobyl zone habitable? Scientists studying mutant black frogs have come up with a stunning conclusion
Scientists say that the Chornobyl exclusion zone, where in 1986 a nuclear power plant accident caused the largest release of radioactive material into the environment in human history, may be habitable. Scientists have come to these conclusions by studying black mutant frogs.
Although the eastern tree frogs that live near the exclusion zone have black rather than green skin, like their typical counterparts, their age has not been reduced. This may mean that the exclusion zone - 26,000 square kilometers around the zero point, access to which is limited - is safe for people to live in, DailyMail writes.
Scientists from Spain assure that the Chernobyl zone is safe for people.
Source: Getty
German Orizaola, a co-author of the new study and a scientist at the University of Oviedo in Spain, said the research showed no difference in age on the behavior of black and green eastern tree frogs from the Chornobyl zone.
"We found no difference in age or aging rate between frogs collected in the full gradient of radioactive contamination, including areas outside the exclusion zone. That is, the current level of radiation exposed to tree frogs in Chornobyl does not affect their age or aging processes," the researcher said.
Green frogs in Chernobyl turned black but survived
Source: PenNews
Herman Orizaola also added that "the age structure and average age of the frogs found in Chornobyl are similar to other populations of the species in Eastern Europe or the Middle East."
As for the black color of the mutant frogs, melanin, a pigment that makes the skin of frogs darker, protects them from radiation, scientists say.
But here, Dr. Orizaola emphasized that this mutation was associated with increased radiation levels shortly after the accident, not with the level of contamination that exists now.
German Orizaola and his colleague Pablo Burraco caught more than 200 frogs in the Chornobyl zone from 2016 to 2018.
Source: PenNews
Therefore, scientists suggest that the ability of frogs to live normally in the exclusion zone may indicate that this territory is safe for people to live in.
"We do not think that radiation is harmful to these frogs now. More than 90% of the radioactive material released as a result of the accident has already decayed and disappeared from the zone over the past 38 years. And the most harmful radioisotopes, such as 131-I, disappeared within a few months after the accident," the Spanish scientist said.
German Orizaola added that large areas of the exclusion zone now maintain radiation levels comparable to background or "natural" levels in many places in the world, and even lower than in some areas.
The number of different animals around Chernobyl has increased significantly over the past 38 years.
Source: Getty
"The fact that the wildlife that lives there does not suffer from constant exposure to the current level of radiation largely proves that these levels can be considered safe for people," the scientist emphasized.
Despite the safety, Orizola would not settle the Chornobyl zone with people. After all, over the past 38 years, in the absence of human activity, biodiversity in this area has flourished.
"The value of the territory as a natural laboratory for understanding the long-term effects of radiation and as a key area for nature conservation exceeds the value of the territory for human settlement. This area should be preserved, protected from human activity and dedicated to the memory of the accident. This area should be protected as a unique reserve," the Spanish researcher suggested.
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