The most radioactive places on the planet. The most radioactive places on earth. Operating objects of radioactive contamination

Radiation. Tragedy on Chernobyl nuclear power plant instilled fear in many before this word. However, we are sure that there have not yet been terrible accidents, there were no major emissions, everything is fine. But this is a sad delusion, because even residents of cities far from nuclear power plants are not immune from getting a dose of radiation that is harmful to the body. Do you know which radiation background in Moscow? Does it exceed the norm? What areas are considered unfavorable in this regard? In this article, we will answer these and other burning questions.

What you need to know about radiation

Radiation - "irradiation") - ionizing radiation. Radioactivity - instability atomic nuclei, manifested in their spontaneous decay and emission of ionizing radiation. Let's list the radioactive particles:

Alpha - heavy helium nuclei with a positive charge.
Beta - electron flows.
Gamma - light rays with great penetrating power.
X-ray - similar to the previous radiation, but has less activity.
Neutrons are neutral particles emitted from nuclear reactors.

If we translate everything that has been said to a person, then for us radiation is particles and rays that can penetrate the body, negatively affecting it on cellular level which inevitably leads to serious health problems and even death. This effect is called irradiation - the transfer of radioactive energy to the cells of a living being.

Human Consequences

If the radiation background in Moscow is critically increased, then this will threaten the residents of the capital with the following:

blood cancer;
metabolic disorders;
genetic mutations;
malignant tumors;
infertility;
infectious complications and so on.

The worst thing is that radiation affects a person the more, the younger his body is.

How does radiation affect us? This usually happens in the following ways:

Through food and water.
Through contaminated air.
Through frequent medical procedures involving exposure to radiation.
Location next to natural sources radiation.
In view of living close to scientific, industrial radiation enterprises that do not care about protecting the environment from their activities.

Therefore, it is important to know in Moscow, so as not to settle in an area where constant presence is detrimental to the body.

Technogenic and natural radioactivity

Let's make a small digression. If the natural radiation background in Moscow or another city in some area is increased, you should not immediately blame the authorities and enterprises for hiding radioactive dumps or accidents. After all, radiation can be not only man-made, but also natural.

Let's look at the difference:

natural radiation:
- Solar, space - we are reliably protected from it by the atmosphere.
- Earth's crust - comes from building materials, sand, stone. In Moscow, a number of decorative granite slabs on the streets have a high radioactive background.
- Radon gas - according to some sources, it is emitted by the earth's crust, which is why it "exists" in the basement. And from there, through the ventilation system, it is brought into residential apartments. "Escape" from it is simple - regularly ventilate your home.
Man-made radiation:
- Nuclear reactors.
- Mining sites for underground minerals.
- radioactive dumps.

Radiation protection

If you noticed with the help of your own dosimeter that the radiation background in Moscow or the Moscow Region is increased, then the first thing to do is contact:

to the radioactive safety service "Radon";
to the Head of Department for civil defense and emergency situations of Moscow;
to the Center for State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of Moscow, Department of Radiology.

Then you should take care of your security:

protect yourself with a temporary barrier from radiation;
use special protective equipment;
immediately leave the zone with an increased radiation background in Moscow, try to spend less time there.

Recall the simple means that will protect you from radiation:

alpha - regular paper sheet;
beta - glass;
gamma - lead;
neutrons - water.

Measurements of the background radiation level in Moscow and the Moscow Region

Let's not sow panic among readers: the radiation level, which is extremely dangerous for human health and life, is 30 microR/h. Nowhere in Moscow today have such figures been recorded!

Here is the official data:

average radiation background in open areas - 8-12 microR/h;
sleeping areas - 8 microR/h;
industrial zones - 8 microR/h;
city center - 10.8 microR/h;
the recorded maximum is 20.2 μR / h.

Let's look in the table at the radiation situation in Muscovites' favorite vacation spots.

It's not all bad, but it could be better.

radioactivity in Moscow

As for the capital, a network of sensors has been installed throughout the metropolis, which are designed to monitor the radiation background. Here are some of their locations:

emb. Kotelnicheskaya;
st. Timiryazevskaya;
sq. uprisings;
emb. Sadovnicheskaya;
st. Aviamotornaya;
sh. Kashirskoye;
sh. Enthusiasts;
Leninsky Prospekt;
WWII museum;
Okhotny Ryad;
sh. Warsaw;
sh. Leninskoe.

If you believe the indicators of these devices, then the average background radiation in Moscow is 0.11-0.15 μSv / h.

Disadvantaged areas of Moscow

According to experts, getting a dose of radiation in the capital, though not deadly, but not useful, is quite realistic. They identify the following unfavorable zones:

Troparevsky forest park;
District of Lublino;
Krylatskoe;
Strogino;
"Zelenaya Gorka" (Rokossovsky Boulevard) - radioactive burial;
Area of the hotel "Ukraine";
"Shcherbinka" - a site for the burial of radioactive waste of the Podolsk plant;
The city of Sergiev Posad is a rather extensive radioactive dump;
Lake Solnechnoye;
Zhestovsky quarry;
24th kilometer of the Leningrad highway - here is the plant of the Research Institute of the Center for Testing the Safety of Radiation of Space Objects.

The main danger of these zones is associated with the proximity of waste disposal sites.

Map of radioactive contamination of Moscow and the region

Scientists scrupulously examine data on the background radiation in the capital and surrounding areas. Based on this information, we can distinguish:

Particularly polluted areas: Lyubertsy (considered a crisis), Moscow, Khimki, Mytishchi, Noginsky, Voskresensky, Kashirsky, Shatursky, Krasnogorsky district.
Medium degree: Shchelkovo, Pushkino, Kolomna, Serpukhov, Podolsk, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Ramensky, Leninsky, Pavlovo-Posadsky, Lukhovitsky, Kolomna, Stupinsky district.
Relatively clean zones: Egoryevsky, Ozersky, Zaraisky, Serebryano-Prudsky, Naro-Fominsky, Chekhov, Odintsovsky, Mozhaysky, Istra, Volokamsky, Dmitrovsky, Ruzsky, Shakhovskaya district.

Now let's see what radionuclides most each district of Moscow is infected with:

Cesium: Eastern, Southeastern, Northwestern. Some sites in the North-Eastern, Northern, Western, South-Western.
Radon: East, Northeast, North, South, West. Some areas in the North-West, South-West.
Uranus: Northeast, West, Southwest, South. Some zones in the Northwest, East and Southeast.
Thorium: Northwest, Southwest. Some sites in the North-Eastern, Western.

Now you are aware of the dangers of radiation for humans, as well as the background radiation in Moscow. Let us reassure you once again: it does not currently exceed the norm that is dangerous for a person. But you should not close your eyes to the areas polluted in this regard. Our advice is to go there as little as possible.

We are all exposed to radiation in one form or another every day. However, in the twenty-five places that we will tell you about below, the level of radiation is much higher, which is why they were included in the list of the 25 most radioactive places on Earth. If you decide to visit any of these places, don't get mad if you find yourself with an extra pair of eyes when you look in the mirror... (well, maybe that's an exaggeration... maybe not).

25. Extraction of alkaline earth metals | Karunagappally, India

Karunagappally is a municipality in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala where rare metals are mined. Some of these metals, especially monazite, have been eroded into beach sand and alluvial deposits. Due to this, the radiation in some places on the beach reaches 70 mGy / year.

24. Fort d'Aubervilliers | Paris, France

Tests for radiation discovered quite strong radiation at Fort D "Aubervilliers. Cesium-137 and radium-226 were found in 61 of the tanks stored there. In addition, 60 cubic meters of its territory were also contaminated with radiation.

23. Acerinox Scrap Metal Processing Plant | Los Barrios, Spain

In this case, the source of caesium-137 went unnoticed by the monitoring devices at the Acherinox scrap yard. When melted, the source caused the release of a radioactive cloud with radiation levels exceeding normal by 1000 times. Pollution was later reported in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

22. NASA Santa Susana Field Laboratory | Simi Valley, California

The town of Simi Valley in California is home to NASA's Santa Susanna Field Laboratory and over the years, approximately ten small nuclear reactors have failed due to several fires involving radioactive metals. On the this moment clean-up operations are underway at this heavily polluted site.

21. Plant for the extraction of plutonium "Mayak" | Muslimovo, Soviet Union

Because of the Mayak plutonium mining plant, built in 1948, residents of Muslimovo in the south Ural mountains suffer the consequences of the use drinking water contaminated with radiation, which led to chronic diseases and physical disabilities.

20. Church Rock Uranium Mill | Church Rock, New Mexico

During the infamous accident at the Church Rock uranium enrichment plant, more than a thousand tons of solid radioactive waste and 352,043 cubic meters of acidic radioactive waste solution entered the Puerco River. As a result, radiation levels increased 7,000 times above normal. A study conducted in 2003 showed that the waters of the river are still polluted.

19. Apartment | Kramatorsk, Ukraine

In 1989, a small capsule containing highly radioactive caesium-137 was found inside the concrete wall of an apartment building in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The surface of this capsule had a dose of gamma radiation equal to 1800 R/year. As a result, six people died and 17 people were injured.

18. Brick houses | Yangjiang, China

Yangjiang urban area is full of houses made of sand and clay bricks. Unfortunately, the sand in this region comes from parts of the hills that contain monazite, which breaks down into radium, actinium, and radon. The high levels of radiation from these elements explain the high rate of cancer in the area.

17. Natural background radiation | Ramsar, Iran

This part of Iran has one of the highest levels of natural background radiation on Earth. Radiation levels at Ramsar reach 250 millisieverts per year.

16. Radioactive sand | Guarapari, Brazil

Due to the erosion of the natural radioactive element monazite, the sands of Guarapari beaches are radioactive, with radiation levels reaching 175 millisieverts, very far from the acceptable level of 20 millisieverts.

15. McClure Radioactive Site | Scarborough, Ontario

The McClure Radioactive Site, a housing estate in Scarborough, Ontario, has been a radioactive site since the 1940s. The contamination was caused by radium recovered from scrap metal that was to be used for experiments.

14. Underground springs of Paralana (Subterranean Springs of Paralana) | Arkaroola, Australia

The underground springs of Paralana flow through rocks rich in uranium and, according to research, these hot springs endure radioactive radon and uranium on the surface for over a billion years.

13. Goias Institute of Radiation Therapy (Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia) | Goias, Brazil

The radioactive contamination of Goiás, Brazil was the result of a radioactive radiation accident after stealing a source of radiation therapy from an abandoned hospital. Hundreds of thousands of people have died due to pollution, and even today, radiation is still rampant in several areas of Goiás.

12. Denver Federal Center | Denver, Colorado

Denver Federal Center has been used as a landfill site for a variety of waste, including chemical substances, contaminated materials and road demolition debris. This waste was transported to different places, which led to radioactive contamination several areas in Denver.

11. McGuire Air Force Base | Burlington County, New Jersey

In 2007, McGuire Air Force Base was recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as one of the most polluted air bases in the country. That same year, the US military ordered a clean-up of contaminants at the base, but the contamination is still there.

10. Hanford Nuclear Reservation Site | Hanford, Washington

An integral part of the US atomic bomb project, the Hanford facility produced plutonium for the atomic bomb that was eventually dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Although the plutonium stock was decommissioned, approximately two-thirds of the volume remained at Hanford, causing groundwater contamination.

9. In the middle of the sea | Mediterranean Sea

A syndicate controlled by the Italian mafia is believed to be using the Mediterranean as a dumping ground for hazardous radioactive waste. Some 40 ships carrying toxic and radioactive waste are believed to sail through the Mediterranean, leaving a large number of radioactive waste in the oceans.

8. Coast of Somalia | Mogadishu, Somalia

Some claim that the soil of the unprotected coast of Somalia was used by the mafia to dump nuclear waste and toxic metals, which include 600 barrels of toxic materials. This, unfortunately, turned out to be true when a tsunami hit the coast in 2004 and rusting barrels buried here several decades ago were opened to the eyes of people.

7. Production Association "Mayak" | Mayak, Russia

A lighthouse in Russia has been the site of a huge nuclear power plant for many decades. It all started in 1957 when approximately 100 tons of radioactive waste was released into environment during the catastrophe that led to an explosion that polluted a huge area. However, nothing was reported about this explosion until 1980, when it was discovered that since the 1950s, radioactive waste from the power plant had been dumped into the surrounding area, including Lake Karachay. The pollution resulted in more than 400,000 people being exposed to high levels of radiation.

6. Sellafield Power Plant | Sellafield, UK

Before it was converted into a commercial area, Sellafield in the UK was used to produce plutonium for atomic bombs. Today, about two-thirds of the buildings that are in Sellafield are considered radioactive. This facility releases about eight million liters of contaminated waste every day, polluting nature and causing death to people living nearby.

5. Siberian Chemical Plant | Siberia, Russia

Just like Mayak, Siberia is also home to one of the largest chemical plants in the world. The Siberian Chemical Combine produces 125,000 tons of solid waste that pollutes the groundwater of the surrounding area. The study also found that wind and rain carry these wastes into the wild, causing high levels of wildlife mortality.

4. Polygon | Semipalatinsk test site, Kazakhstan

The test site in Kazakhstan is best known in connection with the atomic bomb project. This deserted place was transformed into an institution where the Soviet Union blew up its first atomic bomb. The landfill currently holds the record for the largest concentration nuclear explosions in the world. Approximately 200,000 people are currently suffering from the effects of this radiation.

3. Western Mining and Chemical Plant | Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

Mailuu-Suu is considered one of the most polluted places in the world. Unlike other radioactive sites, this site receives its radiation not from nuclear bombs or power plants, but from large-scale uranium mining and processing activities, releasing approximately 1.96 million cubic meters of radioactive waste into the area.

2. Chernobyl nuclear power plant| Chernobyl, Ukraine

Heavily contaminated with radiation, Chernobyl is the site of one of the worst nuclear accidents in the world. Over the years, the Chernobyl radiation disaster has affected six million people in the area and is predicted to result in approximately 4,000 to 93,000 deaths. Nuclear disaster at Chernobyl released into the atmosphere 100 times more radiation than was released as a result of the explosion of nuclear bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

1. Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant | Fukushima, Japan

The aftermath of the earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture in Japan is said to be the longest lasting nuclear hazard in the world. This disaster, considered the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl disaster, caused the meltdown of three reactors, which led to a massive radiation leak, which was detected 322 kilometers from the power plant.

“Radiation background is normal” - this phrase is usually used when assessing situations related to the operation of nuclear power plants. The normal radiation background is up to 0.20 µSv/h (20 µR/h). The safety threshold for people is 0.30 µSv/hour (30 µR/hour). Sanitary norms and rules prescribe not to exceed the annual effective radiation dose of 1 mSv when performing X-rays. But you will not find the normative value of natural radiation in any international or domestic regulatory document. Why?

Where does natural radiation come from?

The natural radiation background of the Earth is associated with its history and the evolution of the biosphere. Since the birth of our planet, it has been under the constant influence of cosmic radiation. A colossal amount of cosmogenic radionuclides was involved in the formation earth's crust. Scientists believe that tectonic processes, molten magma, formation mountain systems owe their appearance to radioactive decay and heating of the bowels. In places of faults, shifts and stretching of the earth's crust, oceanic depressions, radionuclides came to the surface and places with powerful ionizing radiation appeared. The formation of supernovae also had an impact on the Earth - the level of cosmic radiation increased tenfold on it. True, supernovae were born about once every hundreds of millions of years. Gradually, the radioactivity of the Earth decreased.

At present, the Earth's biosphere is still affected by cosmic radiation, radionuclides dispersed in solid earth rocks, oceans, seas, groundwater, air and living organisms. The totality of the listed components of the radiation background (ionizing radiation) is commonly called the natural radioactive background. Natural radioactivity includes several components:

cosmic radiation;
radioactive substances in the earth's interior;
radionuclides in water, food, air and building materials.

Natural radiation is an integral part natural environment habitat. The honor of its discovery belongs to the French scientist A. Becquerel, who accidentally discovered the phenomenon of natural radioactivity in 1896. And in 1912, the Austrian physicist W. Hess discovered cosmic rays by comparing the ionization of air in the mountains and at sea level.

The power of cosmic radiation is not uniform. Closer to the earth's surface, it decreases due to the shielding atmospheric layer. Conversely, it is stronger in the mountains, since the protective screen of the atmosphere is weaker. For example, in an airplane that flies in the sky at an altitude of 10,000 meters, the radiation level exceeds ground radiation by almost 10 times. The strongest source of radioactive radiation is the Sun. And here the atmosphere serves as our protective screen.

Natural radiation background in various places of the world

Permissible radiation background in different parts of the world is significantly different. In France, for example, the annual dose of natural radiation is 5 mSv, in Sweden - 6.3 mSv, and in our Krasnoyarsk only 2.3 mSv. On the golden beaches of Guarapari in Brazil, where more than 30,000 people vacation every year, the radiation level is 175 mSv / year due to the high content of thorium in the sand. In the hot springs of the town of Ram-Ser in Iran, the radiation level reaches 400 mSv / year. The famous resort of Baden-Baden also has an increased radiation background, as well as some other popular resorts. The radiation background in cities is controlled, but this is an average figure. How not to get into trouble if you do not want to test your health with an overdose natural radionuclides? The radioactivity indicator will become your reliable travel expert.

On August 8, a little over a month ago, a rocket booster exploded at a military training ground in the Arkhangelsk region, resulting in an increase in radiation levels. This caused alarm both in our country and abroad. Subsequently, Roshydromet reported a 16-fold increase in background radiation, but five days after the explosion, residents of the nearest village of Nenoksa were evacuated. This means that most likely another place has appeared on our planet,. Unfortunately, there are much more of them on Earth today than we would like.

We have yet to learn about the consequences of the explosion in Severodvinsk

Despite the fear that exists in relation to nuclear power plants, today in most countries of the world industry ensures the safe management of radioactive sources. To ensure that the levels of radiation to which plant workers and the population near them are exposed remain safe, it is important to control three variables: distance, radiation protection(shielding) and exposure time.

According to an epidemiological report from the Spanish nuclear center Foro Nuclear, ionizing exposure is significant when people are exposed to high doses of radiation. However, in the case when the level of radiation exposure is very low, you should not worry.

Due to radiation, a person can develop mutations

The report includes the findings of several studies on the health status of residents near radiation-contaminated areas that have been conducted since 1940. Among them, there is no increase in cancer mortality in any of the studied areas, except for Chernobyl. Unfortunately, experts have recorded a significant increase in thyroid cancer among the child population.

Although improvements in the safety of nuclear power plants in the 21st century have minimized the risk of another nuclear disaster with the same impact as Chernobyl, nuclear waste and its management remain a serious concern. environmental problem. However, the recent explosion in Severodvinsk once again demonstrates to the whole world that nuclear disasters of the most varied scale can be repeated. But how many territories on our planet are unsafe for life due to radiation? Let's get to know some of them.

Chernobyl, USSR

The worst nuclear disaster in the history of mankind occurred, as you know, at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The consequences of the disaster, which contaminated territories with radiation within a radius of several kilometers, in addition to deaths directly at the site of the accident, killed more than 4,000 people, causing cancer. To date, the exact number of people injured in the accident is not exactly known.

Pripyat, exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Today Pripyat is a ghost town located in the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. However, over time, the level of radiation gradually decreases, so today, taking the necessary precautions, Pripyat can be visited.

Have you watched the HBO series dedicated to the Chernobyl accident? Let's discuss it in our Telegram chat.

Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a Pacific state of Micronesia. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands. Unfortunately, these tests left an imprint that persists in some regions. Scientists have conducted a study, according to the results of which it is not recommended to populate some of the islands, as this may pose a threat to health. The islands on which, these are Enjebi, Runit, Bikini and Naen.

Aerial view of the Marshall Islands

Fukushima, Japan

One of the worst nuclear disasters in the world was the 2011 earthquake in Japan, which caused a tsunami that swept the coast and affected. Japan is one of the countries with the highest seismic activity in the world. So we should definitely think about where not to build nuclear power plants.

Map of radiation contamination

The natural disaster that caused the accident did not cause human casualties, but the vast territory is no longer suitable for life. The energy released during the earthquake was equivalent to the explosion of 200 million tons of dynamite. In addition, the level of radiation in food products after the accident exceeded the established legal maximum by 27 times. Fortunately, the radioactivity in the area is gradually fading away.

Mayak Station, Russia

Unfortunately, Chernobyl is not the only nuclear disaster in the USSR. Soviet authorities for many years they tried to hide several radioactive emissions produced at the Mayak nuclear power plant. In particular, the release of radioactive waste on the Techa River in 1957, the explosion of the building where this waste was stored. This made the area near the Mayak station one of the most radioactive places on the planet. After Chernobyl and Fukushima, it is considered the third most serious nuclear accident and is ranked 6 on the INES scale (International Nuclear Event Scale).

Extraction of alkaline earth metals | Karunagappally, India

Fort d'Aubervilliers | Paris, France

Radiation tests found quite strong radiation at Fort d'Aubervilliers. Cesium-137 and radium-226 were found in 61 of the tanks stored there. In addition, 60 cubic meters of its territory also turned out to be contaminated with radiation.

Acerinox Scrap Metal Processing Plant | Los Barrios, Spain

In this case, the source of caesium-137 went unnoticed by the monitoring devices at the Acherinox scrap yard. When melted, the source caused the release of a radioactive cloud with radiation levels exceeding normal by 1000 times. Pollution was later reported in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

NASA Santa Susana Field Laboratory | Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley, California is home to NASA's Santa Susanna Field Laboratory, and over the years, about ten small nuclear reactors have failed due to several fires involving radioactive metals. Cleanup operations are currently underway at this heavily polluted site.

Plutonium mining plant "Mayak" | Muslyumovo, Russia

Due to the Mayak plutonium mining plant, built in 1948, residents of Muslyumovo in the southern Ural Mountains are suffering from the consequences of drinking water contaminated with radiation, which has led to chronic diseases and physical disabilities.

Church Rock Uranium Mill | Church Rock, New Mexico

During the infamous accident at the Church Rock uranium enrichment plant, more than a thousand tons of solid radioactive waste and 352,043 cubic meters of acidic radioactive waste solution entered the Puerco River. As a result, radiation levels increased 7,000 times above normal. A study conducted in 2003 showed that the waters of the river are still polluted.

Apartment | Kramatorsk, Ukraine

In 1989, a small capsule containing highly radioactive caesium-137 was found inside the concrete wall of an apartment building in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The surface of this capsule had a dose of gamma radiation equal to 1800 R/year. As a result, six people died and 17 people were injured.

Brick houses | Yangjiang, China

Yangjiang urban area is full of houses made of sand and clay bricks. Unfortunately, the sand in this region comes from parts of the hills that contain monazite, which breaks down into radium, actinium, and radon. The high levels of radiation from these elements explain the high rate of cancer in the area.

Natural radiation background | Ramsar, Iran

This part of Iran has one of the highest levels of natural background radiation on Earth. Radiation levels at Ramsar reach 250 millisieverts per year.

Radioactive sand | Guarapari, Brazil

Due to the erosion of the natural radioactive element monazite, the sands of Guarapari beaches are radioactive, with radiation levels reaching 175 millisieverts, very far from the acceptable level of 20 millisieverts.

McClure Radioactive Site | Scarborough, Ontario

The McClure Radioactive Site, a housing estate in Scarborough, Ontario, has been a radioactive site since the 1940s. The contamination was caused by radium recovered from scrap metal that was to be used for experiments.

Underground springs of Paralana (Subterranean Springs of Paralana) | Arkaroola, Australia

The underground springs of Paralana flow through rocks rich in uranium and, according to research, these hot springs have been bringing radioactive radon and uranium to the surface for over a billion years.

Institute of Radiation Therapy Goias (Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia) | Goias, Brazil

The radioactive contamination of Goiás, Brazil was the result of a radioactive radiation accident after a radiotherapy source was stolen from an abandoned hospital. Hundreds of thousands of people have died due to pollution, and even today, radiation is still rampant in several areas of Goiás.

Denver Federal Center | Denver, Colorado

Denver Federal Center has been used as a landfill site for a variety of waste, including chemicals, contaminated materials, and road demolition debris. This waste was transported to different places, which led to the radioactive contamination of several areas in Denver.

McGuire Air Force Base | Burlington County, New Jersey

In 2007, McGuire Air Force Base was recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as one of the most polluted air bases in the country. That same year, the US military ordered a clean-up of contaminants at the base, but the contamination is still there.

Hanford Nuclear Reservation Site | Hanford, Washington

An integral part of the US atomic bomb project, the Hanford facility produced plutonium for the atomic bomb that was eventually dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Although the plutonium stock was decommissioned, approximately two-thirds of the volume remained at Hanford, causing groundwater contamination.

In the middle of the sea | Mediterranean Sea

A syndicate controlled by the Italian mafia is believed to be using the Mediterranean as a dumping ground for hazardous radioactive waste. Some 40 ships carrying toxic and radioactive waste are believed to be sailing through the Mediterranean, leaving large amounts of radioactive waste in the oceans.

Coast of Somalia | Mogadishu, Somalia

Some claim that the soil of the unprotected coast of Somalia was used by the mafia to dump nuclear waste and toxic metals, which include 600 barrels of toxic materials. This, unfortunately, turned out to be true when a tsunami hit the coast in 2004 and rusting barrels buried here several decades ago were opened to the eyes of people.

Production association "Mayak" | Mayak, Russia

A lighthouse in Russia has been the site of a huge nuclear power plant for many decades. It all started in 1957, when approximately 100 tons of radioactive waste was released into the environment in a catastrophe that resulted in an explosion that polluted a huge area. However, nothing was reported about this explosion until 1980, when it was discovered that since the 1950s, radioactive waste from the power plant had been dumped into the surrounding area, including Lake Karachay. The pollution resulted in more than 400,000 people being exposed to high levels of radiation.

Sellafield Power Plant | Sellafield, UK

Before it was converted into a commercial area, Sellafield in the UK was used to produce plutonium for atomic bombs. Today, about two-thirds of the buildings that are in Sellafield are considered radioactive. This facility releases about eight million liters of contaminated waste every day, polluting nature and causing death to people living nearby.

Siberian Chemical Plant | Siberia, Russia

Just like Mayak, Siberia is also home to one of the largest chemical plants in the world. The Siberian Chemical Combine produces 125,000 tons of solid waste that pollutes the groundwater of the surrounding area. The study also found that wind and rain carry these wastes into the wild, causing high levels of wildlife mortality.

Polygon | Semipalatinsk test site, Kazakhstan

The test site in Kazakhstan is best known in connection with the atomic bomb project. This deserted place was transformed into an institution where the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb. The test site currently holds the record for the largest concentration of nuclear explosions in the world. Approximately 200,000 people are currently suffering from the effects of this radiation.

Western Mining and Chemical Plant | Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

Mailuu-Suu is considered one of the most polluted places in the world. Unlike other radioactive sites, this site receives its radiation not from nuclear bombs or power plants, but from large-scale uranium mining and processing activities, releasing approximately 1.96 million cubic meters of radioactive waste into the area.

Chernobyl nuclear power plant | Chernobyl, Ukraine

Heavily contaminated with radiation, Chernobyl is the site of one of the worst nuclear accidents in the world. Over the years, the Chernobyl radiation disaster has affected six million people in the area and is predicted to result in approximately 4,000 to 93,000 deaths. The nuclear disaster at Chernobyl released 100 times more radiation into the atmosphere than was released as a result of the explosion of nuclear bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant | Fukushima, Japan

The aftermath of the earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture in Japan is said to be the longest lasting nuclear hazard in the world. Considered the worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster, the disaster caused three reactors to melt down, resulting in a massive radiation leak that was detected 322 kilometers from the power plant.