In Chornobyl zone, level of cesium increased due to forest fires, no threat to population

Due to a large-scale forest fire in the Chornobyl exclusion zone in the north of the Kyiv Region, experts recorded an increase in the concentration of radionuclides near the sources, but there is no threat to the population outside the zone. This was reported by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate based on the results of monitoring conducted on May 9.

Experts emphasize that despite the burning of a large amount of vegetation, exceeding the permissible radiation safety standards for residents of nearby regions is not expected.

According to the data of the State Enterprise "ECOCENTER", in air samples taken on May 8 directly near the burning sites, the volumetric activity of cesium-137 reached 680 μBq/m³. Although these indicators exceed the internal control levels for the territory of the zone itself, they remain significantly lower than the national maximum permissible standards. The power of gamma radiation currently corresponds to long-term observations and does not exceed background values ​​​​in the rest of Ukraine.

Experts note that combustion products can move over considerable distances due to high temperature and wind, which sometimes leads to a short-term increase in the concentration of particles in the places of their deposition. However, the inspectorate emphasized that such a phenomenon only redistributes radionuclides already existing in the ecosystem and does not create new radioactivity. At present, the situation does not require the implementation of special measures to protect the population.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on May 8, the head of the Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration, Myroslav Biletskyi, stated that a large-scale forest fire in the Mukachevo district could have been the result of deliberate arson, which, according to one version, may have involved russians.

A large-scale forest fire is being extinguished in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. According to rescuers, the area of ​​​​the fire has already exceeded 1,100 hectares, and strong winds continue to spread the fire to new areas of the forest.