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Born of human error, continually generating copious heat, the Elephant's Foot is still melting into the base of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. If it hits ground water, it could trigger another catastrophic explosion or leach radioactive material into the water nearby residents drink.Dec 3, 2013

Can the elephant’s foot be removed?

Very hard solidified corium, like that of the Elephant's Foot, would have to be broken up to remove it from damaged reactors. "[That] will generate radioactive dust and increase hazards to workers and possibly the environment," Lyman says.

Is the elephant’s foot still melting?

The corium of the Elephant's Foot might not be as active as it was, but it's still generating heat and still melting down into the base of Chernobyl.

What would happen if you stood next to the elephant’s foot?

If you spent just two minutes beside the lumpy pile, a mixture of nuclear fuel, melted concrete, sand, and the melted metal that had once shielded the whole mass, the cells in your body would start draining. Double the exposure, and you'd start to throw up, experience diarrhoea and run a burning temperature.

Did they shoot the elephant’s foot?

The substance proved too hard for a drill mounted on a motorized trolley, and a soldier who volunteered to attack it with an axe left the room empty-handed – and so over-exposed he had to be evacuated immediately from Chernobyl. Finally, a police marksman arrived and shot a fragment of the surface away with a rifle.

Will the elephant’s foot explode?

Born of human error, continually generating copious heat, the Elephant's Foot is still melting into the base of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. If it hits ground water, it could trigger another catastrophic explosion or leach radioactive material into the water nearby residents drink.

What’s the most radioactive thing on earth?

The radioactivity of radium then must be enormous. This substance is the most radioactive natural element, a million times more so than uranium.

What is the most radioactive town in America?

Not only is Pittsburgh radon some of the worst in the United States, but Canonsburg has been notorious as a town with a radioactive history. Marie Curie did several studies in Canonsburg, PA back in the 1920's and it was deemed "The Most Radioactive Town in America" .

Is Nagasaki still radioactive?

Is there still radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? The radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki today is on a par with the extremely low levels of background radiation (natural radioactivity) present anywhere on Earth. It has no effect on human bodies.

What is the most radioactive city in America?

Even though Jacksonville is America's Most Radioactive City, it's no Chernobyl. If you're a resident, you don't have to convert your in-ground pool into a fallout shelter.