There are still large areas in southern Germany where you’re not allowed to eat wild mushrooms and every boar that is hunted must be tested for radiation. That is because of the fallout from Chernobyl 38 years ago and 1400 km away.
For sure, but there are places in Germany and everywhere in Europe where you shouldn’t be eating or drinking anything that comes out of the ground because of coal emissions, and places you can’t do anything in because of the gigantic coal mines. And that’s still currently happening and will keep happening for the foreseeable future.
The key word is “Should” in that sentence. Coal emits tons of mercury and other heavy metals, plus the radioactive emissions. And all the other harmful particles and gases.
It would be extremely naive to think that even if there is no official ban, it’s safe to eat and live downwind from a coal power plant.
Just for reference: https://env-health.org/IMG/pdf/dark_cloud-full_report_final.pdf.
Also open pit coal mines:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WyRnWaSVzASp4VNE8
Please do note the official warnings of the BFS (Federal Office for Radiation Protection). Contamination of forests with Caesium-137 is a health risk in many southern Bavarian forests. It’s half-life period is 30 years. The disaster was in 1986. That means it’s still roughly half of it there and the layered forest grounds preserve radiation well.
If you’re a mushroom forager on vacation in southern Bavaria - just don’t do it. Or at least inform yourself which types of mushrooms you shouldn’t eat in particular for radiation reasons.
There are still large areas in southern Germany where you’re not allowed to eat wild mushrooms and every boar that is hunted must be tested for radiation. That is because of the fallout from Chernobyl 38 years ago and 1400 km away.
For sure, but there are places in Germany and everywhere in Europe where you shouldn’t be eating or drinking anything that comes out of the ground because of coal emissions, and places you can’t do anything in because of the gigantic coal mines. And that’s still currently happening and will keep happening for the foreseeable future.
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The key word is “Should” in that sentence. Coal emits tons of mercury and other heavy metals, plus the radioactive emissions. And all the other harmful particles and gases.
It would be extremely naive to think that even if there is no official ban, it’s safe to eat and live downwind from a coal power plant.
Just for reference: https://env-health.org/IMG/pdf/dark_cloud-full_report_final.pdf.
Also open pit coal mines: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WyRnWaSVzASp4VNE8
Which is mostly due to fear(mongering) and not real residue.
And see another comment about coal emissions which are happening right now.
Please do note the official warnings of the BFS (Federal Office for Radiation Protection). Contamination of forests with Caesium-137 is a health risk in many southern Bavarian forests. It’s half-life period is 30 years. The disaster was in 1986. That means it’s still roughly half of it there and the layered forest grounds preserve radiation well.
If you’re a mushroom forager on vacation in southern Bavaria - just don’t do it. Or at least inform yourself which types of mushrooms you shouldn’t eat in particular for radiation reasons.
General information and warnings (2022):
https://www.bfs.de/DE/themen/ion/notfallschutz/notfall/tschornobyl/umweltfolgen.html#doc6055566bodyText3
Specifically regarding mushrooms (2019):
https://www.bfs.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/BfS/DE/broschueren/ion/info-wildpilze.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=7
OK, thanks. That ends the argument on South German forests, but doesn’t end it on nuclear energy being more or less harmful than coal.
All coal does is guarantee it and dilute it (guaranteed ejecting more).