Direct effects of radiation on the natural environment
In the first few weeks following the accident, lethal doses were reached in local biota, notably for coniferous trees and voles (small mices) in the area within a few kilometres of the reactor. By autumn 1986, dose rates had fallen by a factor of 100, and by 1989, these local ecosystems had begun to recover. No sustained severe impacts on animal populations or ecosystems have been observed. Possible long-term genetic impacts and their significance remain to be studied.