Contrary to a long-held belief, the Chernobyl cloud did indeed travel through France… and Lyon wasn’t spared. On April 26, 1986, the explosion of reactor number 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant released radioactive particles into the atmosphere that spread across Europe. Carried by the winds and intensified by rainfall, this cloud significantly affected certain areas of the Hexagon, including the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. In Lyon and its surroundings, the fallout settled on the soil, vegetation, and crops. This episode was long downplayed but is now acknowledged by scientific authorities.
A region under surveillance since 1986
In light of the ambiguity of the time, the disaster sparked a significant awareness in France. As early as 1986, scientists founded the ... hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline">CRIIRAD in Valence to independently monitor radioactivity. It has become an essential initiative in the French scientific landscape. Current measurements show that the Rhône valley is one of the areas where slightly elevated traces are still found. But in Lyon, levels remain low to moderate, with no proven health consequences for the residents.
Traces still present... but on the decline
Four decades later, some radioactive elements persist in the environment. Cesium-137, in particular, continues to be detected in soils. What’s its special characteristic? A long half-life, which explains its still measurable presence today. But here’s the good news: its radioactivity is diminishing!progressively over time. Local agricultural products pose no danger according to current checks.