University scientist advises on future of Chernobyl
Posted on 21. Oct, 2009 by admin in Earth Sciences, Science
An environmental scientist from the University of Portsmouth will visit the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to advise on the decommissioning of the reactor’s cooling ponds
Dr Jim Smith will join a small group of scientists from around the world in Kiev at a meeting chaired by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They are gathering to present their recommendations to the Ukrainian government on the future of the heavily contaminated Cooling Pond of the old Soviet power plant.
Dr Smith from the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences was invited to present his findings on the cooling pond, a 22 square km reservoir which provided cooling water for the nuclear reactors at Chernobyl. Following the accident in 1986 it was heavily contaminated and much of this contamination remains in the reservoir sediments. Scientists at the meeting will discuss potential solutions for the future management of the pond.
He said: “It’s not a straightforward case of draining the pond and digging out the contaminated sediments. This would expose workers to the radiation and raise issues of how to dispose of it at a potentially huge cost.
“And despite the high levels of contamination, the pond is home to a unique aquatic eco-system including 38 species of fish, two of which are on the Ukraine’s list of rare species. It’s a very complex situation.”
Dr Smith recently led a three year EU-funded research project to study the Cooling Pond ecosystem and the potential for release of radioactivity from the contaminated sediments. He will present the results of this study and give his view of how the ecology and chemistry of the water might change if the pond were partially drained to create several smaller ponds. His contribution will help to create broad picture of the latest situation at the Chernobyl site in order for the Ukrainian government to take the best course of action.
The accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 is considered to be the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history. It resulted in a massive release of radioactivity and forced the evacuation of huge numbers of people. Today the towns of Chernobyl and nearby Pripyat, once home to 115,000 people, are ghost towns surrounded by a 17 mile exclusion zone.
Contaminated Land – MSc
Crisis and Disaster Management – MSc
Engineering Geology – MSc
Geological and Environmental Hazards – MSc
