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Chernobyl: the site - One of the biggest nuclear tragedies in history happened in 1986. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant was located in the city of Pripyat in Ukraine, which at the time, was part of the Soviet Union.

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Chernobyl: the accident - The blast killed more than 30 people and triggered a mass evacuation of about 50,000 people, reports the The Daily Express.

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Chernobyl: the consequences - According to a UN publication, approximately 8.4 million people were exposed to radiation, including those involved in disaster response operations.

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Chernobyl: aftermath - The Exclusion Zone used to be an area of 30 km radius surrounding the nuclear plant, but it now covers over 200 sq km. Because of the radioactive levels, even after all these years, inhabitation is incredibly restricted.

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Chernobyl: population -

Despite the serious health risks, some people continued to live in their villages near Chernobyl, the Daily Mail reports.

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Chernobyl: exclusion zone - Before the Russian invasion, the area used to be visited by some tourists that ignored the warnings and risked their lives by entering the exclusion zone illegally, says National Geographic. Now the region is even more dangerous.

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Fukushima: the area - The Fukushima region in Japan is another highly radioactive area you should avoid.

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Fukushima: the disaster - In 2011, a strong earthquake, followed by a tsunami, hit Japan.

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Fukushima: victims -

According to The Independent, the disaster caused at least 15,000 deaths.

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Fukushima: the nuclear accident -

The tsunami hit the Fukushima nuclear power plant and caused the reactors to fail. This was the biggest nuclear accident in the world since Chernobyl.

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Fukushima: population - At the time, the Japanese government and the company responsible for the nuclear power plant were criticized for failing to inform people properly. According to the BBC, some residents fled to areas which were even more radioactive than the ones where they were in initially.

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Fukushima: aftermath - The Independent reported that lethal levels of radiation are still found in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

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Fukushima: exclusion zone - Despite the warnings, tourists risk their lives and visit the exclusion zone, reports The Telegraph.

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The Polygon: the site - The Semipalatinsk Test Site, known as 'The Polygon,' is located in Kazakhstan.

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The Polygon: history - Soviet nuclear tests were conducted here during the Cold War, with devastating consequences for the residents of nearby villages, according to a National Geographic article.

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The Polygon: consequences - About 100,000 people in the region are still affected by radioactivity.

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Hanford: the site - Located in Washington, the site was used for the US nuclear program during World War II and the Cold War, as reported by the Seattle Times.

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Hanford: history - The atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki during World War II was produced at the site.

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Hanford: aftermath - The government began cleaning up the site and planning its demolition. The operation raised a series of issues over radioactive particles found in vehicles.

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Hanford: aftermath - The Seattle Times reports that mistakes in the site's demolition project would have contributed to the spreading of radiation to surrounding areas.

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Radiation exposure -

But what can happen if a human is exposed to high levels of radiation like the ones found in these places?

Exposure to high levels of radiation can pose serious health risks and even lead to death within hours, the BBC reported.

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Environmental contamination - In addition to human contamination, a nuclear accident can compromise food and water.

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Serious illnesses - According to the BBC, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and fever are common. At a more advanced level, radiation exposure can cause damage to internal organs as well as various types of cancer.

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Children - The damage can even be greater in children because their bodies are still developing. According to the BBC, following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, there was a considerable increase in thyroid cancer among children in the area. This is because the radioactive iodine, released during the accident, accumulates easily in this gland.

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Treatments - There are some treatments available in case of radiation exposure. These include medication to increase white blood cells, which can help treat possible bone marrow damage.

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Treatment - The first step however, is to wash the skin and hair gently with soap and water, says the BBC.

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Stay away -

Ultimately, you should stay away form these radioactive areas.

See also: What are the safest countries to be in if a third World War starts?

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