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chernobyl radiation
in ref to radsafe inquiries about radiation levels at chernobyl, see the
following news item:
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Ukraine admits higher radiation in Chernobyl tomb
Ukrainian officials have acknowledged that neutron radiation readings
inside the Chernobyl nuclear plant's ruined fourth reactor have risen
significantly, the Ukrinform news agency reported on Thursday. Viktor
Baryakhtar, vice-president of Ukraine's Academy of Sciences, told the
agency that readings of neutron activity had risen by between five and 110
times this week in the "sarcophagus" covering the reactor. One independent
report this week said neutron radiation readings twice normal levels had
been recorded inside the cracking steel and concrete tomb hurriedly erected
around the reactor after it exploded and caught fire in April 1986. But the
report said much higher rises -- tens of thousands times the norm -- would
be required to cause a new nuclear reaction. "This is a rather dangerous
phenomenon which has been observed three times this year," Baryakhtar,
President Leonid Kuchma's top nuclear adviser, told Ukrinform. "The main
reason is leakage under the sarcophagus of rainwater, which speeds up
neutrons. The only way to avoid these instances is to build a new structure
around the sarcophagus without delay." Baryakhtar described the latest
incident as a "chain reaction" which had lasted between four and five hours
on Monday.
Copyright 1996, Reuters, All Rights Reserved [Image]
ENN Daily News -- September 19, 1996
Copyright + 1996, Environmental News Network Inc.
Paul Skierkowski
Environmental Safety Services
University of Oklahoma
905 Asp Ave, Room 112
Norman, OK 73019-6041
(405)325-1015
FAX: -7238
PSKIERKOWSKI@OU.EDU