Chernobyl - anyone been?

[DanWright]

Perhaps a odd question, But has anyone been to the city of Prypyat on one of those supposedly 'safe' tours.
I ask because I've been asked by a friend to join him and a group of friends to join them on one of these trips. I've looked into it and they say that by spending just a few hours in this town, you are exposed to the same amount of radiation that you would encounter on a transatlantic flight.
However after looking into the history of the tragity, I learnt that over 8 tons of plutonium was sent flying out of the reactor into the surrounding area. Where is it now? Is it still there? After 26 years id of thought the radiation levels would still be very high. After all, it's not blocked off for no reason is it.
So do I go or not!?!

[jamiem]

I'd go :) I saw a TV programme on the place last week, and they were analysing the impact on the local wildlife. The outcome was that the place has become an enormous natural reserve and that while there has been slight changes in the patterns and activities of the animals, the actual quantities of wildlife living there has sky rocketed. I rekon it would be fascinating to see the place :)

[waveydavey]

Tenby would be a better option mate. I wouldn't go anywhere near, morbid fascination tours more like.

[LaurenceGough]

You wouldn't catch me anywhere near it... Radiation levels are still sky high. As cool as it is I don't think it's worth risking your health, although some don't care.

[anti]

I'd love to go only to see a ghost town, however here in North Wales it's only this year they've lifted the requirement for all livestock in the mountains to be tested for radiation before they can be sold for consumption and yearly checks on the soil... The last place on earth I'd take health advice from is the Russian tourist board :-s

[DanWright]

Thats it. I'm really interested in its history and fasinated by all the images I've seen and so id love to go. However I dont fancy putting my life at risk, or potentially my children's (if I ever have any).

[Spanner]

Do your research, from what I've read its relatively safe, just skip your clothing when you exit the 30km exclusion zone to prevent your self staying in contact with any contamination you may pick up. I'd go, I bet its an eerie place to go?

[BiG-T]

Till a few years ago I used to belong to an organisation that one of the tasks was to monitor radioactive fallout.
We used to use the caluculation of T - 1.2 or 7/10ths rule (multiply time by 7 & divide dose rate by 10) that is to say that if you know the intial level of radiation you can work out the decay rate and the approximate level now. The example I remember is if the initial level was 100 cg/hr 1 hour afterwards 1 3/4 hours after it would be 50 cg/hr, 7 hours after 10cg/hr, 49 hours (2 days) after 10cg/hr, 2 weeks after 0.1 cg/hr, 14 weeks after 0.01cg/hr. As the intial dose was a lot higher than this example even after 20+ years it is still significant.
If you want to walk round looking like the Readibrek advert or you don't want kid's go!!!! lol

[paulsouthport]

My missus was born about 100km from there are lived there until she was 20.
She's perfectly healthy, although I do have to wear sunglasses at night 'cos she glows like a ready-brek kid

[r4nd0m]

I made the trip 5 years ago ... it was shocking ... there are areas where you are allowed 15minutes max, at the time ...the trip is well worth it if you want to shoot pictures or video or in general want to see how a deserted area looks like ...

[adamr]

Yeah go! Don't lick the ground, you'll be fine. :-)

[DanWright]

I think I'll give it a miss this year then and leave it a few more years. Is it likely that the radiation levels will be much lower in say 5-10 years? But saying that they may have demolished the place then.

[r4nd0m]

[QUOTE=DanWright;827048]I think I'll give it a miss this year then and leave it a few more years. Is it likely that the radiation levels will be much lower in say 5-10 years? But saying that they may have demolished the place then.[/QUOTE]

the level currently is just as high a in Kiev ... [URL="http://tour2chernobyl.com/faq.html"]FAQ: Pripyat tours, visit and travel to Pripyat, is it safe to visit Chernobyl[/URL]

[ShaggyRS6]

I'll maybe go to Barbados or somewhere really boring like that or pretty much any other place that has not had a nuclear disaster in my lifetime :)

[callum]

[QUOTE=DanWright;827048]I think I'll give it a miss this year then and leave it a few more years. Is it likely that the radiation levels will be much lower in say 5-10 years? But saying that they may have demolished the place then.[/QUOTE]

I'd certainly go mate, Yes Radiation levels are still high in some areas - But that's why there is a maximum time limit in that area. If your healthy then I wouldn't worry at all.

It's actually a place I intend to visit sometime.