What to expect in Hungary in case of a nuclear accident in Ukraine?
Attila Aszódi, a professor at the Budapest University of Technology, spoke about the outcomes of a potential accident at a Ukrainian nuclear power plant. In the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian war, many are wondering what the worst-case scenario might be. We aim to find some answers with the help of Aszódi.
Is there another nuclear outbreak on the cards?
The Russian forces attacking Ukraine would like to occupy several strategically important nuclear power plants. in addition to the no longer operating Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhia power plant, one of the largest in the world, was acquired by Russians. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also expressed concern about this, writes atlatszo.hu.
“However, there is no need to fear a nuclear disaster,”
said Attila Aszódi, a professor at the Budapest University of Technology. “An accident at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine would have limited impact on Hungary. The radioactivity would be measurable, but there would be no health consequences for the Hungarian population. Within some 10-kilometre circle around the power plants, the effect that is actually health-relevant would remain and the radiation could spread further. However, that would occur in such a low concentration that there would be no health consequences in Hungary” said Aszódi.
The reactors operating in Ukraine are different from those at Chernobyl.
There is no second Chernobyl disaster in the making
In Chernobyl, they used another technology, the so-called graphite-moderated, water-cooled reactors, writes portfolio.hu. However, the current nuclear plants no longer work with that. “They are free of graphite and there is no risk of a reactor runoff that caused the 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl site. And since there is no graphite in the current reactors, graphite fire is not possible,” Aszódi added.
If a nuclear accident happened in Ukraine, the Hungarian measuring system would detect some of the radiation, but there would be no health consequences.
Nevertheless, Hungary is ready for a nuclear accident. The country even has its own nuclear emergency response system. The expert pointed out that it was unnecessary to store iodine tablets. It does not protect against radiation and there are more health risks than benefits if you take these pills.
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Source: atlatszo.hu, portfolio.hu