How long (in yrs) does it take radioactive land, such as Chernobyl to become inhabitable?

Question

In 1986 Chernobyl became radioactive and caused many deaths, the surrounding land became uninhabitable. How long till the surrounding land can be used again? If ever?

Answer 1

Actually, the surrounding land is inhabited today so I guess the answer would be a few days or years at the most.

And just for the sake of accuracy, Chernobyl, or at least the Chernobyl power plant did not become radioactive in 1986.  It was radioactive from the day it was built.  Also, there was no nuclear explosion at the plant, it was a plain old garden variety fire.

Incidently, the surviving residents of Hiroshima never left the city and began to rebuild within hours of the nuclear detonation.

Answer 2

AE:

Another interesting question - think of the half life of the particular isotopes, different radioactive material will have a longer or shorter half life than other types.  I speculate that some of your answers are descriptive on what some of the half life cycles are for the particular radiation material that was exposed to the environment.

We will not see the "clean" environment in our life time of the Chernobyl area - come to think of it nor will your great, great, great, great grandchildren.

Answer 3

It may never be safe to live there again. No telling what kind of damage has been done to ground water Aquafers and topsoil. I would think hundreds of years before there would be no ill effects

Answer 4

I've heard of 'travel' companies advertising trips to Chernobyl because its 100% safe...every year in the school I teach in we have children from the Chernobyl area. Most of them are sick and suffering. The air is clear to breathe but there is much radioactivity in the topsoil.

WHO and the IAEA have commissioned this report...

http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklet...

It makes for interesting reading... if you can understand the terminology.

Answer 5

Let's not count in years -- it will be better in centuries! The decrease of contamination levels from now on will be mainly due to radioactive decay indicating that radioactive cesium (Cs137, with a half-life of 30 years) will be present for approximately 300 years.

Oops, I just reread the question again. The answer to the question, "How long does it take radioactive land ... to become inhabitable?" is that it becomes INhabitable as soon as enough radiation get into the air and soil!