Jordan Ellis
The HBO miniseries Chernobyl has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the place and times, with impressive set designs and props. However, it has also been criticised for taking artistic liberties with certain facts. One such scene in question involves the local hospital, which appears to show children suffering from acute radiation syndrome (ARS). In reality, there were no cases of ARS among the general public, with the average dose received by the people of Pripyat being equivalent to three whole-body CT scans, which has never been seen to cause health effects. Another scene depicts a pregnant woman visiting her husband, a firefighter suffering from ARS, and the baby absorbing so much radiation that it died. This is also inaccurate, as the father would not have been radioactive, and radiation exposure cannot be passed on in this manner.
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What You'll Learn
The clothing of first responders
In the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the clothing of the first responders, who were firefighters, has been preserved in the basement of Pripyat Hospital. The items, which include boots, helmets, and gloves, were hastily discarded and still emit dangerously high levels of radiation. This is a stark reminder of the severe radiation exposure faced by those who were first on the scene.
The standard protocol for reducing radiation exposure involves applying time, distance, and shielding controls. Protective clothing is designed to minimize the penetration of radioactive materials and limit skin and clothing contact. These garments are intended for single use and prompt disposal to avoid long-term exposure and cross-contamination. In general, more body coverage is recommended, and hooded coveralls are advised to protect hair and clothing.
Specialized companies like DuPont offer a range of nuclear protective clothing to address the diverse spectrum of radioactive contamination risks. DuPont's Tyvek® 600 coveralls, for instance, provide protection against radioactive particles as small as 1.0 micron. They also offer chemical resistance against low-concentration water-based inorganic chemicals such as sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and sodium hypochlorite. The seams of these coveralls are serged and over-taped, enhancing protection and strength.
For situations involving liquid spray, DuPont's Tyvek® 800 coveralls are recommended. These offer protection against low-concentration water-based organic chemicals and feature sewn and over-taped seams that provide strong resistance against liquid splashes. In nuclear environments, DuPont's Tychem® 4000 fabric provides effective protection, safeguarding against more than 124 chemical challenges, including hydrazine and potassium chromate.
In addition to protective clothing, first responders in radiation emergencies should also wear personal radiation dosimeters, enabling them to monitor dose rates and accumulated doses in real time. This equipment is crucial for ensuring the safety of those brave individuals who put themselves in harm's way during hazardous incidents like the Chernobyl disaster.
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Gamma radiation and its effects
Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by the nucleus of some radionuclides following radioactive decay. Gamma rays originate from the settling process of an excited nucleus of a radionuclide after it undergoes radioactive decay. They are similar to X-rays, but they are emitted from an excited nucleus.
Gamma rays are the most energetic photons in the electromagnetic spectrum and have the highest energy in the EMR spectrum. They are also called gamma-rays when they are included in cosmic rays. Gamma rays are highly penetrating and interact with matter through ionisation via three processes: photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, or pair production. Due to their high penetration power, gamma rays can pass completely through the human body, causing damage to tissue and DNA as they pass through. This damage to DNA molecules can lead to cancer induction and genetic damage, with studies showing that low-dose gamma radiation may be enough to cause cancer. The severity of acute tissue damage is certain to happen with high doses of gamma radiation.
The impact of gamma radiation can be measured in units such as the röntgen, gray (Gy), sievert, and rem. The International Commission on Radiological Protection notes that in the low-dose range, below about 100 mSv, it is plausible to assume that the incidence of cancer or heritable effects will rise in direct proportion to an increase in the equivalent dose. An acute full-body equivalent single exposure dose of 1 Sv (1000 mSv) or 1 Gy will cause mild symptoms of acute radiation sickness, such as nausea and vomiting. Higher doses of 2.0-3.5 Sv (2.0-3.5 Gy) will result in more severe symptoms, including nausea, diarrhoea, hair loss, hemorrhaging, and an inability to fight infections, with a potential fatality rate of 10-35% without medical treatment.
In the context of the Chernobyl hospital scene, it is important to note that gamma radiation was likely a factor in the acute radiation sickness experienced by firefighters and plant workers who were brought to the Pripyat Hospital. The average dose to the people of Pripyat was about 30 mSv, which is equivalent to three whole-body CT scans and has not been known to cause any health effects. However, gamma radiation's ability to penetrate barriers and cause damage to tissue and DNA means that those exposed to radiation at the Power Plant should have been washed and dressed in uncontaminated clothing before arriving at the hospital.
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The Bridge of Death
The "Bridge of Death" is a nickname given to a railway bridge in Pripyat, Ukraine, following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The bridge gained its nickname from reports that those who stood there died from radiation sickness. However, one survivor disputes this, believing that most Pripyat residents would have slept through the explosion. He recalls being treated in hospital alongside a man who biked to the bridge in the morning to watch the fire, and who was diagnosed with a mild type of acute radiation syndrome (ARS).
The HBO miniseries *Chernobyl* includes a scene at the "Bridge of Death", which has been criticised for its inaccuracy. The scene depicts Pripyat residents rushing to the bridge for a better view of the fire, unaware of the radiation exposure. Children are shown playing in radioactive dust, which falls from the sky like snow. However, in reality, there were no cases of ARS among the general public living in cities and villages around the Chernobyl power plant. The average dose to the people of Pripyat was about 30 millisieverts, which has never been seen to cause health effects.
The miniseries has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the place and time, with impressive set designs, acting, and props. However, it has also been criticised for taking dramatic licence with certain facts. For example, the series shows a pregnant wife visiting her husband, a firefighter suffering from ARS, and the baby absorbing so much radiation that it died. Experts claim that this could not have happened, as the father was not radioactive.
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred on 26 April 1986, when a reactor at the plant exploded. The resulting fallout caused a crisis for the people of Pripyat and those living miles away. More than 50 reactor and emergency workers were killed in the immediate aftermath, and many others died from the long-term effects of radiation exposure. The liquidators, who were enlisted to carry out work on the roof and in other highly toxic zones, had to cobble together their own clothing from lead sheets, as the army did not have adequate uniforms adapted for radioactive conditions.
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The Helicopter scene
The decision to include the crash during the sand-dropping operation was a creative choice made during post-production. The show's creator, Craig Mazin, wanted to highlight the dangers faced by the pilots flying over an open reactor. The crash adds a layer of drama and emphasizes the challenges faced by those responding to the disaster.
In reality, the attempts to drop boron, sand, and lead onto the melting fuel rods were largely unsuccessful in hitting their targets. The core cooled down by itself after burning through the primary containment. However, it is believed that these efforts may have contributed to extinguishing the fire burning in the graphite moderator.
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The clean-up operation
In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, firefighters, soldiers, janitors, and miners rushed to the scene, totalling around 600,000 people. They faced a daunting task: deactivating the reactor, removing contaminated materials, and evacuating the affected population. The urgency of the situation meant that safety protocols were sometimes overlooked, resulting in dangerous levels of radiation exposure for those first responders. The basement of Pripyat Hospital, located near the Chernobyl site, still holds the highly radioactive clothing of the first responders, including boots, helmets, and gloves, bearing silent witness to the hazardous conditions they endured.
The liquidators also included special hunting squads tasked with the grim duty of exterminating domestic animals left behind in evacuated settlements. The psychological toll of such tasks, along with exposure to radiation, took a heavy toll on the liquidators, with many experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues.
The Chernobyl clean-up operation was a massive and protracted undertaking, involving hundreds of thousands of people. Despite their efforts, the area surrounding the plant remains unsafe, and the clean-up work continues even today. Scientists regularly monitor radiation levels, and the decommissioning of the reactors is an ongoing process. The legacy of Chernobyl serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by nuclear disasters.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some people in the hospital scene did suffer from acute radiation syndrome (ARS). However, these were limited to firefighters and workers, and no members of the public or children were affected.
No, the people in the hospital were not radioactive. Gamma radiation, the type of radiation seen at Chernobyl, passes through the body, and the person is no longer radioactive and cannot expose others.
The long-term effects of the radiation were limited to mental health issues caused by radiophobia. There were no significant public health consequences outside of the Chernobyl vicinity. However, there were cases of thyroid conditions in children who lived in affected areas in Ukraine and Belarus.
