When will chernobyl be safe to return to?

Answer 1

I read that it wont be habitable for another 48,000 years! To be honest, no one actually knows!! It certainly won't be in our life time, although I think it is a lot less than 48,000 years. I've heard it's more around 400-900 years, until the radiation has gone back down to normal levels. That is the problem with Chernobyl and surrounding areas - the amount of radiation in the soil, water, everywhere is thousands of times over the normal levels.

Answer 2

One may certainly visit the Chernobyl area, including even the exclusion zone, which is a 30 kilometre radius surrounding the plant, all of whose reactors are now closed. Although some of the radioactive isotopes released into the atmosphere still linger (such as Strontium-90 and Caesium-137), they are at tolerable exposure levels for limited periods of time. Some residents of the exclusion zone have returned to their homes at their own free will, and they live in areas with higher than normal environmental radiation levels. However, these levels are not fatal. Exposure to low but unusual levels of radiation over a period of time is less dangerous than exposure to a huge amount at once, and studies have been unable to link any direct increase in cancer risks to chronic low-level exposure.

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Answer 3

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is not expected to be safe for permanent human habitation for thousands of years due to the lingering radiation levels. However, short-term visits are allowed under guided tours, but living in the area permanently is still considered unsafe.