THE 10 SITES IN THE WORLD MORE RADIOACTIVE

While the 2011 earthquake and concerns surrounding Fukushima have led to the threat of
radioactivity back into the public consciousness, many people do not realize yet that
radioactive contamination is a danger worldwide. Radionuclides are in the first six toxic
threats contained in the 2010 report by the Blacksmith Institute, a non-governmental
organization dedicated to the fight against pollution. You may be surprised by the location
of some of the most radioactive places in the world - and therefore the number of people
living with the fear that radiation can have effects on them and their children.
10. Hanford, USA
The Hanford site in Washington, was an integral part of the project of the US atomic bomb,
manufacture plutonium for the first nuclear bomb and "Fat Man", used in Nagasaki. As the
cold war waged on, increased production, supply plutonium for most of the 60,000 US
nuclear weapons. Although out of service, it still has two-thirds of the volume of high level
waste radioactive activity in the country - about 53 million gallons of liquid waste, 25
million cubic feet of solid waste and 200 square miles of groundwater below the
contaminated area, making it the most contaminated site in the US .. the environmental
devastation of this area makes it clear that the threat of radioactivity is not simply
something that will come in a missile attack, but could lurking in the heart of their own
country.
9. The Mediterranean
For years, there have been allegations that the union 'Ndrangheta Italian mafia has been
using the seas as a convenient location to dump hazardous waste - including radioactive
waste - charge for the service and pocketing the profits. An Italian NGO Legambiente,
suspects that about 40 ships loaded with toxic and radioactive waste has disappeared in the
Mediterranean since 1994. If true, these allegations paint a disturbing picture of an
unknown quantity of nuclear waste in the Mediterranean, whose real danger only become
apparent when hundreds of barrels somehow degrade or otherwise break. The beauty of the
Mediterranean Sea, and may be hiding an environmental catastrophe in the making.
8. The coast of Somalia
The organization of the Italian mafia just mentioned has not only remained in its own
region with regard to this sinister business. There are also allegations that Somali waters
and soil, not protected by the government, have been used by the sinking or burial of
nuclear waste and including 600 barrels of toxic and nuclear wastes toxic metals and
radioactive waste of the hospital. In fact, the United Nations Environment Programme
believes rusty waste barrels washed up on the coast of Somalia during the tsunami of 2004
were dumped back to the 1990s The country is already an anarchic wasteland and the

effects of these wastes on the poor can be as bad if not worse than they have already
experienced.
7. Mayak, Russia
The industrial complex of Mayak, Russia, northeast, has had a nuclear power plant for
decades, and in 1957 was the scene of one of the worst nuclear accidents in the world. Up
to 100 tons of radioactive waste were released by an explosion contaminating a massive
area. The explosion was kept secret until the 1980s From the 1950s, the plant waste was
dumped around and Lake Karachay. This has led to contamination of the water supply
based on thousands daily. Karachay experts believe may be the most radioactive place in
the world, and over 400,000 people have been exposed to radiation from the plant as a
result of several serious incidents that have occurred - including fire and deadly dust
storms. The natural beauty of Lake Karachay belies its deadly pollutants, with radiation
levels in radioactive waste streams in its waters enough to give a man a fatal dose in one
hour.
6. Sellafield, UK
Located on the west coast of England, Sellafield was originally a production of plutonium
for nuclear bombs, but then moved to a commercial territory. Since the beginning of its
operation, hundreds of accidents have occurred at the plant, and about two-thirds of these
buildings are now classified as nuclear waste. The plant emits about 8 million liters of
contaminated sea waste on a daily basis, so the Irish Sea the most radioactive in the world
sea. England is known for its green fields and rolling landscapes but nestled in the heart of
this industrialized nation is a toxic, accident-prone installation, throwing hazardous waste
in the world's oceans.
5. Siberia, Russia
Mayak is not the only contaminated site in Russia, Siberia, is home to a chemical plant that
contains more than four decades worth of nuclear waste. Liquid wastes are stored in the
outdoor pools and containers in poor condition have more than 125,000 tons of solid waste,
while underground storage has the potential to leach into groundwater. The wind and rain
have spread the contamination to wildlife and surroundings. And several minor accidents
have resulted in lack of plutonium and radiation is spreading explosions. While the snowy
landscape may seem pristine and immaculate, the facts make clear the true level of
contamination found here.
4. The Polygon, Kazakhstan
Once the location of nuclear testing weapons of the Soviet Union, this area is now part of
modern Kazakhstan. The site was allocated to the project of the Soviet atomic bomb,
because of its "uninhabited" status - despite the fact that 700,000 people lived in the area.

The facility was where the Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear bomb and is the record
holder for the place with the highest concentration of nuclear explosions in elmundo: 456
tests over 40 years from 1949 to 1989. While the tests carried place on the premises - and
their impact in terms of exposure to radiation - were kept secret by the Soviets until the
plant closed in 1991, scientists estimate that 200,000 people have had their health directly
affected by radiation. The desire to destroy foreign nations has led to the specter of nuclear
pollution hanging over the heads of those who were once citizens of the USSR.
3. Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan
Considered one of the ten most polluted Earth by 2006 places the Blacksmith Institute
report, the radiation Mailuu-Suu not come from power plants nuclear bombs or, but from
the mining of materials needed in the processes involved. The area was home to a facility
uranium mining and processing and now runs 36 waste dumps uranium-more than 1.96
million cubic meters. The region is also prone to seismic activity, and any disruption of
containment could expose the material or make some of the waste that fall into rivers,
polluting the water is used by hundreds of thousands of people. These people can not
always suffer the dangers of a nuclear attack, but nonetheless have a good reason to live in
fear of fallout each time the earth shakes.
2. Chernobyl, Ukraine
Home to one of the worst and most infamous delmundo nuclear accident, Chernobyl
remains heavily polluted, despite the fact that a small number of people are now allowed in
the area for a limited period of time. The notorious accident caused more than 6 million
people to be exposed to radiation, and it is estimated that the number of deaths that will
occur due to the great Chernobyl accident in 4000 up to 93,000. The accident released 100
times more radiation than the bombs of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Belarus accounts for 70
percent of the radiation, and its citizens have been dealing with higher incidence of cancer
since. Even today, the word conjures up images of Chernobyl terrible human suffering.
1. Fukushima, Japan
The 2011 earthquake and tsunami was a tragedy that destroyed homes and lives, but the
effects of the nuclear power plant Fukushima may be the danger longer duration. The worst
nuclear accident since Chernobyl incident caused the collapse of three of the six reactors,
leaking radiation into the surrounding area and the sea, so that the radioactive material has
been detected up to 200 kilometers from the plant. As the incident and its consequences still
are learning the true magnitude of the environmental impact is still unknown. The world
may still be feeling the effects of this disaster for future generations.