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Case Study: Tatyana Dorokhova

Tatyana Dorokhova (Татьяна Дорохова)

School Principal, Starye Bobovichi

Tatyana Dorokhova has been principal of the Starye Bobovichi school for eight years now. She was out of the area at University when the Chernobyl meltdown happened 30 years ago, but returned when the cleanup was being undertaken.

Radiation levels around the town are generally quite low, which one would hope to find three decades after the nuclear disaster and cleanup efforts. However, it is not hard to find areas of elevated radioactivity, and, unfortunately, the school is one of these places.

A special light painting tool displays radiation levels in real-time at a school in Starye Bobovichi (Старые Бобовичи). Here white light shows contamination levels up to 0.23uSv/h, while orange highlights elevated levels – up to 0.30uSv/h around these trees. 30 years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the schoolyard still contains areas of elevated radiation levels. This image has not been digitally manipulated outside of minor contrast and exposure adjustments. Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

“One possible explanation is the connection to Svyatsk. When it was evacuated, a decision may have been made to keep valuables. Pictures, books, building materials etc., which have made their way to the school. Over the years a lot of illegal digging, logging etc has happened, and some materials from these activities are likely to have ended up in the town, concentrating radioactivity. People had to move quickly after the disaster, and they took almost everything of value including glass, shelving etc. to other nearby villages.”

This is a common theme throughout the Bryansk region. Areas may have been cleaned,  people resettled, and food controls put in place etc, but contaminated materials are still easily spread throughout the environment by weather, by people trying to save valuables, and by opportunism as people strip building materials and resources such as wood and soil from abandoned areas.

The village of Svyatsk (Святск), Russia, disappears into the landscape 30 years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Abandoned due to radioactive contamination, what remains of the village church and graveyard is maintained by community members, but the rest of the village has been mostly reclaimed by nature and targeted by scavengers despite many areas having elevated levels of radiation. Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

Light mapping of the school showed that some areas, such as the entrance and most of the rear playground have low and stable radiation levels, but other places children would frequent had consistently elevated levels. These areas included a small playhouse in the front yard of the school, the trees bordering the pedestrian path to the bus stop, and the playground area directly in front of a set of firefighting tools.

A special light painting tool displays radiation levels in real-time at a school in Starye Bobovichi (Старые Бобовичи). Here white light shows contamination levels up to 0.23uSv/h (Japan’s guide for decontamination), while orange highlights elevated levels – from 0.30uSv/h to 0.65uSv/h around these trees and children's play house. 30 years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the schoolyard still contains areas of elevated radiation levels. This image has not been digitally manipulated outside of minor contrast and exposure adjustments. Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

The children learn about radiation risks in school via a special course. It’s not mandated or officially approved by the education ministry, but they do it at the school after their normal lessons.

“Once upon a time an accident happened. A dark cloud bypassed the area, and contamination came this way from the sky, and our land, our soil absorbed it.”

A book that is used to teach children about radiation risks and safety at a school in Starye Bobovichi (Старые Бобовичи), 30 years after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Know in the region for academic excellence, parents and teachers work to give local children the best opportunities they can, but even the schoolyard still contains areas of elevated radioactive contamination. Greenpeace/Greg McNevin

The children, especially the older ones, are quite aware of the problem, the contamination in the forest and that they have to be careful. But at the end of the day, kids are kids. They still play in the forest, collect and eat the mushrooms, the berries.

Their parents may be planting vegetable gardens, but they still worry about whether the food they grow is safe or not given radiation risks remain all around, 30 years later. Because they know what it is like to live with such long term problems, Tatyana says that the people in her area keenly feel for those in Fukushima. She wished to send a message of solidarity:

“Dear people, living on the other side of the globe, we know from personal experience the circumstances and the result of radioactive contamination, as we are still suffering from the Chernobyl nuclear power accident. This is why all of us wish you good health, stay strong, and always remember that you are not alone. We know your problems and support you.”

More information on the project can be found here. All photos copyright Greenpeace/Greg McNevin.

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One thought on “Case Study: Tatyana Dorokhova”

  1. I feel so sad to see the destruction of this area and Thinking of my grandather and grandmother who was born and lived there until they came to America in 1904 and 1912, leaving their families, including a son who later married and had four children, they lived in Starye Vyshkov also. My uncle was killed when Germany invaded Russia in 1944. His family along with other family members survived. Family members here kept in touch with Family there until 1965, when my grandmother passed away we had no means of communication. No one living could write Russian. I feel that maybe some of the family descendants may still be living. My grandfathers name was Samuelovich Komarov. In America his name was John S. Sawaski. Grandmothers name was Juliana Komarova, American name:
    Ella Sawaski

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