Boars burdened with wild boars 28 years after Chernobyl

Chernobyl consequences: boars may not be sold partly because of cesium pollution

08/17/2014

Meanwhile, the nuclear catastrophe of Chernobyl is already over 28 years back. However, in Thuringia many wild boars are still so heavily burdened with cesium that their meat must not be sold. In about every tenth killed animal the limit was exceeded.

28 years after the Supergau
More than 28 years ago, a meltdown at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl led to the supergrain. On April 26, 1986, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the environment through an explosion at the nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The contamination not only reached neighboring countries, but even Germany. Even today, in Thuringia quite a few wild boars are so contaminated that their meat must not be sold, as it says in a message from the news agency dpa.

End of the problem is not foreseeable
According to the Ministry of Health, 586 animals were killed last year, and nearly every tenth exceeded the limit of 600 becquerels per kilogram. Karin Schindler, head of the Food Inspection Unit, says the problem can not be resolved, as the cesium burden is only halved every 30 years. According to Schindler, wild boars are more affected than other wild animals because they roam in the forest floor, where the cesium lasts particularly long. „They absorb mushroom mycelium on a large scale, in which cesium accumulates particularly strongly.“ Therefore, wild boar living in dense forest areas are more affected than those who are increasingly roaming meadows and fields.

Not all shot boars are examined
However, not all shot boars are examined. Schindler explained that there is rather a tiered system with priority areas where all animals must be tested, hunting districts where only samples of every fifth animal are examined and the remaining parts of the country with even smaller samples. The expert explained that the main areas included areas in the Thuringian Forest, especially in the districts of Hildburghausen, Gotha and the Ilm district. This is due to the local forest structure as well as the weather conditions in the days after the reactor disaster in April 1986. And also in the district of Greiz there is a region where, at least in winter, all pigs shot are examined. „In the summer, they stay there on meadows and fields harmless.“

Positively tested meat must be disposed of
According to Schindler, the investigations are only due when the meat is sold or given away. If a hunter kills an animal for its own consumption, this is not necessary. „600 becquerel is a very low limit. Once you eat that, it's no problem.“ However, if the meat is tested positive, it must be discarded and the hunter will be compensated. The president of the Landesjagdverband, Steffen Liebig, stated that the procedure was very well established. „This works without problems.“ Wild boar would continue in these areas „hunted tight“. As Liebig emphasized, in Bavaria far more regions are affected than in Thuringia.

Radioactive contaminated food is hazardous to health
The consumption of radioactive contaminated food, however, is by no means considered safe by most experts, but is considered to be seriously hazardous to health. For example, after the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, it was increasingly pointed out that iodine 131 collects in the thyroid gland and can lead to thyroid cancer. Cesium 137, on the other hand, accumulates in muscles and can cause leukemia, for example. It should also be noted that the currently applicable limit values ​​are criticized again and again by experts, as even with minimal radiation exposure even negative health consequences are conceivable. (Ad)