The Truly Wild Life Around Chernobyl
Many animals are in evolutionary overdrive
Containment. Properly entombing the station, however, will be a long-term challenge. The bowels of burnt-out Reactor 4 were filled with a molten mix of radioactive materials that solidified into eerily beautiful multicolored masses. This "chernobylite," as well as tons of contaminated dust, will remain radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years. No one knows yet how to safely contain this debris for such a long period of time, and contamination of ground water is a growing threat. The existing shelter, constructed hastily nine years ago, already has holes in it; radioactive dust can escape, rain can enter, and birds nest inside. Experts recommend building a new earthquake-resistant shelter designed to stand 100 years.
Who will pay? Ukrainian officials are asking for $4 billion in aid to get these Chernobyl-related projects started. The World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are evaluating the nation's energy needs and are expected to update the current offer of $800 million with a new aid package this fall.
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