13.04.2006. Are there many two-headed calves in Chernobyl zone? Polesski radiation- ecological reserve was created in 1988 in a part of the territories contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The project aimed at overseeing the wildlife in conditions of the high radiation level, and forest planting as it prevents emission of radioactive particles with dust.

Continuation of journey notes of "Belarusian News" special correspondent

Beginning:

1. Homemade vodka helps to forget about radiation
2. Bragin waits for Lukashenko

Vassily SEMASHKO (photographs are taken by the author)

Polesski radiation- ecological reserve was created in 1988 in a part of the territories contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. The project aimed at overseeing the wildlife in conditions of the high radiation level, and forest planting as it prevents emission of radioactive particles with dust.

All kinds of plants and animals fit to this climatic zone were brought here. A part of the reserve was fenced with barbed wire to prevent undesirable migration of animals.

One should obtain a permit of the local instance of authority to legally enter the reserve. Besides, a permit to stay in the border area is needed. It is to be issued at the registered place of residence. The reserve administration assigns a local officer to accompany us. It wants to be sure that the fire and radiation safety rules are observed and visitors do not lose their way in Polessye wilderness. Our attendant, Maxim, is a young head of one of the reserve’s department. The way he told us about these places made it clear that it is not his first trip with journalists.

We drive from Khoyniki to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Twelve kilometers of ride to Babchin village and come to a control point of the evacuation zone. Scientific research is conducted there. People plant forest. The trailer and lifting gate shine with fresh paint. Reserve workers in camouflage uniform check documents and lift the gate. I check the background radiation level. One hundred microroentgen per hour! A security guard says my utility-type dosimeter is a piece of junk and the level of radiation here actually makes 15 miсroroentgen, which is less than in Minsk. But before and after that my device provided exact indications.

A small town near the control point accommodates workers of the reserve. There are scientific laboratories, car repair shops, a fire station, foresters’ houses, a hotel and a dining room. A local lore museum is about to be opened in the restricted zone. The museum possesses a collection of stuffed animals, local household items (it is quite easy to find wooden items like old spinning wheels, mortars or baker’s rakes in abandoned villages), devices used for the radiation level monitoring.

Each researcher has a meter of received radiation doze pinned on clothes, small as a badge. Insert it into a special device and you will see what doze of radiation you have taken when wearing this badge. If it exceeds the contamination standard, which happens very seldom, you would not be allowed entering the highly contaminated zone for a while.

Guest researchers work in the reserve for 15 days, then take rest for the same period, while ordinary attendants go there every day. The rotating scheme exists only on paper. The reserve management responds to all complaints simply and solely: you disagree – you quit. Thus finding a job in the district center is quite a big deal. Attendants have no individual doze meters. Their bones get weak as a result of the long stay in the highly contaminated area, thus all bone diseases are scarcely cured.

A horse harnessed to a cart stands near the office building. The radiation level near her head makes 105 microroentgen per hour, 5 times higher than at my hands!

The decontamination station is near the personnel quarters. Vehicles covered with radioactive dust go to the dock; people take shower. In winter, when there is no dust, the radiation level is always minimal. It goes up in summer, especially when weather is dry. Now, during the spring flood, there is almost no dust in the air, and the decontamination station does not work.

After the Chernobyl accident all roads in affected areas were asphalted not to kick up radioactive dust. Over the twenty years, despite the light traffic, asphalt in the reserve has cracked. The road surface is to be renewed this year. Fire safety billboards and radiation hazard signs stand along the roads.

Another 8 kilometers, we approach the next control point called “Maidan”. This is the entrance to the 30-kilometer restricted zone. Near the control point we see a small house for security guards and an observation tower with a video camera on it. Such towers are used for timely fire detection. Fires usually break out due to the fault of intruders, mainly hunters-poachers. The guards say chimneys of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is 36 kilometers far from here, can be seen from this tower. They did not let us clime up, referring to an accident in the Bragin district, where a reserve visitor once fell off such tower. One more ID check and we keep on going.

On the way Maxim tells us about the reserve. I ask about external mutations of animals, a frequently asked question, I guess. It looks like our guide was waiting for this one. As he said, all animals accumulate radiation to a certain extent. Those eating roots and earth insects always take higher dozes, than those foraging above the ground. That is why wild boar meat is always more radioactive, than the meat of elk, which bites off leaves from branches.
The high contamination level causes animals’ viscera disorders. Some of them live short; internal body activity of other animals changes, while health is not considerably affected. Thus Maxim could not call to memory any serious mutations in the zone …

To be continued...