The Chernobyl power plant's catastrophic explosion in 1986 created a long-lasting exclusion zone, yet the documentary 'Atomic Secrets' reveals that other regions, notably Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, may present even greater radiation dangers. Ukrainian scientist Dmitry Kalmykov, who first assessed Chernobyl's contamination, now studies the pervasive effects of radiation in Semipalatinsk, an area heavily impacted by secret nuclear tests from 1949 to 1989. This visual narrative sheds light on the hidden health risks posed to locals reliant on agriculture in contaminated zones, challenging perceptions of radiation safety in the post-Soviet landscape.
The Chernobyl disaster resulted in permanent displacement and contamination, creating a 30-kilometre exclusion zone around the plant that will remain uninhabitable for 20,000 years.
Dmitry Kalmykov's work highlights the overlooked dangers of radiation exposure in Semipalatinsk, a former nuclear testing site where locals face serious health risks.
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