More than 30 years have passed since the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and during this time the so-called "exclusion zone" has become overgrown with lush vegetation. It is quite possible to grow rye on this territory for the production of flour and alcohol, but scientists have always feared that the products would be radioactive and harm human health. It is impossible to be afraid of this forever, so a group of scientists from Great Britain and Ukraine took a chance and made something very unexpected from Chernobyl water and crops - vodka. Do you think she is dangerous?
The experimental vodka was named "ATOMIK". It is considered the first consumer product to be made from ingredients taken from radioactive sites. At the moment, there is only one bottle of the exclusive drink and, according to one of the creators of Chernobyl vodka, Jim Smith, it is the most important bottle of alcohol in the world. Perhaps he is not exaggerating.
How is vodka made?
Like any other vodka, the Chernobyl drink is composed of alcohol and water. For the manufacture of alcohol, scientists used rye, which was grown on the territory of the exclusion zone. The crop was husked and crushed to such an extent that the grains turned into flour. Subsequently, the resulting mass was boiled in water and mixed with yeast for fermentation. The fermented mass was turned into alcohol using a distillation apparatus.
Chernobyl vodka "ATOMIK".
The resulting alcohol was mixed with water taken from the Chernobyl wells. The analysis showed that it was not contaminated with radioactive substances, therefore it is completely safe for human health. If water cannot harm people, then what about alcohol? After all, the rye used in its manufacture was clearly radioactive.
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The harm of vodka to health
The rye grown in Chernobyl did indeed contain radioactive substances. In particular, an increased concentration of strontium-90 was found in its samples. This substance arose from nuclear fission inside the Chernobyl reactor and got into the air after a tragic accident. It can be deposited on human bones and affects bone tissue and bone marrow. Its long-term exposure is the cause of tumors and chronic radiation sickness.
Radioactive strontium-90.
However, during the distillation process, when the fermented mixture turns into alcohol, all radioactive substances disappear. In principle, the scientists decided to make vodka from rye because it is a completely pure product. Only the element carbon-14 was found in the resulting drink, but it is found in other alcoholic beverages as well. In a word, ATOMIK vodka is not radioactive, but like any other alcoholic drink, it causes irreparable harm to health.
What does vodka taste like?
Employees of the British BBC TV company took a sample of Chernobyl vodka and asked experts from London's Swift bar to rate its taste. According to them, the resulting drink is not vodka in the usual sense of the word. Rather, it is a strong grain alcoholic beverage that has a richer flavor.
At the moment, it is impossible to taste Chernobyl vodka, because it is not produced in large quantities. However, in the near future the creators want to release 500 bottles, which will clearly interest tourists actively visiting the territory of the Chernobyl disaster.
How to save Chernobyl?
According to scientists, it is quite possible to grow crops on the territory of Chernobyl. In the future, they want to plant rye outside the exclusion zone and make vodka, the proceeds of which will go to help local residents. At the moment, about 1,500 people live in the exclusion zone who do not have work and adequate medical support.
On the left - a place for growing rye in the future; right - the place where the radioactive culture was grown.
The production of ATOMIK vodka will be carried out by the Chernobyl Alcohol Company. To start mass production, its representatives need to resolve a number of legal issues. Most likely, they will succeed without any problems, because the idea of creating Chernobyl vodka has already been supported by the state agency of Ukraine for the management of the exclusion zone.
Finally, we want to remind you that alcohol consumption has irreparable harm to human health. In particular, alcoholic beverages destroy brain cells, slow down the central nervous system and literally destroy the liver.
Ramis Ganiev
