A new study has unraveled the mystery behind the lingering radioactivity in wild boars inhabiting the Chernobyl exclusion zone, even decades after the catastrophic 1986 nuclear accident.
In a recent study, researchers from TU Wien in Vienna and the Leibniz University of Hannover have uncovered the complex reasons why these animals exhibit high levels of radiation contamination, defying expectations of decay over time.
The Effect of the Chernobyl Disaster on Europe's Fauna
The Chernobyl disaster had far-reaching consequences for forests across Central Europe. In the aftermath, mushrooms and wild animal meat were found to be heavily contaminated with radioactive isotopes, raising food safety concerns.
While contamination levels in deer and roe deer decreased as expected over the years, the meat of wild boars remained persistently radioactive, puzzling scientists.
Professor Georg Steinhauser, a radiation expert at TU Wien involved in the study, explains in a statement: "The most important element for the radioactivity of the samples is cesium-137, with a half-life of about 30 years."
This radioactive isotope, released during the Chernobyl accident, was expected to decay significantly, reducing contamination levels in food samples. However, wild boar meat defied these expectations by maintaining almost constant levels of radioactivity.
A recent study investigates why wild boars in Chernobyl still have high radioactivity levels, citing a variety of factors including past nuclear tests and animal's eating habits.Image via Unsplash
Why Wild Boars Remained Radioactive
The research team's investigations revealed that the persistence of radioactivity in wild boar meat is due to a complex interplay of factors, including the legacy of nuclear weapons testing from the 1960s.
While cesium-137 from Chernobyl is one contributor, another isotope, cesium-135, plays a significant role. Professor Steinhauser noted that cesium-135, with a longer half-life, contributed significantly to wild boar contamination.
A vital aspect of the study is the role of the boars' diet in exacerbating their exposure to radioactive isotopes. Wild boars have a penchant for digging up deer truffles from the forest floor, and these underground mushrooms serve as repositories for cesium isotopes.
"The cesium migrates downwards through the soil very slowly," explains Professor Steinhauser. "Deer truffles, which can be found at depths of 20-40 centimeters, are thus only now absorbing the cesium that was released in Chernobyl."
This delayed accumulation of radioactivity in truffles, combined with their consumption by wild boars, perpetuates the cycle of contamination in the boar population.
That is why, despite decades passing since the nuclear disaster, wild boar meat samples continue to exceed permitted radiation limits, posing risks to human health and the ecosystem.
The UK Food Standards Agency warns that radioactivity can damage the genetic makeup of humans. Small doses can be treated, but larger doses can alter the way cells function, increasing the risk of cancer.
