Around the world, there are some places so dangerous that they pose serious risks to both people and the environment.
These sites, filled with high levels of radiation, are a result of nuclear accidents, improper waste disposal, or outdated facilities.
As nations strive to manage and dispose of radioactive waste, now over 80% of which is securely stored,1 there are still locations where the threat of radiation is high.
1. Chernobyl (Ukraine)
Location: Northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus
Current Status: Exclusion Zone, partially open for tourism
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 is one of the most infamous nuclear accidents in history. The explosion at Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant released a massive amount of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, affecting large parts of Europe. The nearby town of Pripyat was evacuated, and a 18.6-mile exclusion zone was established.
Today, though radiation levels have dropped, the area remains highly radioactive, especially near the reactor. In 2016, a steel sarcophagus was installed to contain radiation.
Wildlife has surprisingly returned, but long-term radiation effects remain unclear. Despite the risks, guided tours are available in parts of the exclusion zone.
2. Fort d’Aubervilliers (France)
Location: Suburb of Paris, France
Current Status: Contaminated, under remediation
Fort d’Aubervilliers, located in the northern suburbs of Paris, was used for nuclear experimentation between the 1930s and 1960s.
The site was part of France’s early atomic research, where radioactive materials like radium and polonium were handled. Over the decades, this led to radioactive contamination of the ground and structures.
Remediation efforts are ongoing but slow due to the complexity of removing radioactive materials. The contamination continues to pose risks to residents, delaying land redevelopment, and raising health and environmental concerns, particularly for cleanup workers.
3. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Japan)
Location: Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Current Status: Stabilized, decommissioning in progress
In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was severely damaged by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami, resulting in the meltdown of three of its reactors.
Large amounts of radioactive material were released into the atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean, leading to widespread evacuation and contamination of nearby land and water.
The plant is stabilized, but decommissioning will take decades. Radioactive water is still stored there, and Japan plans to release treated water into the ocean, causing international controversy.
Surrounding areas are decontaminated, and some residents have returned, but many remain concerned about radiation and safety.
4. Hanford Site (United States)
Location: Washington State, USA
Current Status: Active cleanup site
The Hanford Site in Washington State was a major production complex for the U.S. nuclear weapons program, producing plutonium for the atomic bombs used in World War II, including the bomb dropped on Nagasaki.
For decades, radioactive waste was stored on-site, and inadequate containment led to contamination of soil and groundwater, making it one of the most contaminated sites in the United States.
The Hanford Site is one of the largest environmental cleanup projects globally, managed by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The process involves handling underground waste, contaminated groundwater, and decontaminating buildings and land. It will take decades and billions of dollars to complete.
5. McGuire Air Force Base (United States)
Location: New Jersey, USA
Current Status: Under ongoing monitoring and remediation
McGuire Air Force Base, part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, has a history of handling nuclear weapons and radioactive materials.
As a result, the base has experienced contamination from radioactive waste, particularly in soil and water near areas where nuclear weapons were stored or transported.
Cleanup has been ongoing for decades, targeting radioactive and hazardous materials. While many areas are cleaned, others still face monitoring and remediation.
McGuire remains an active military base, with ongoing remediation reflecting the challenges of nuclear weapons handling.
6. Church Rock Uranium Mill (United States)
Location: Church Rock, New Mexico, USA
Current Status: Contaminated, under long-term monitoring and cleanup
The Church Rock Uranium Mill site was the location of one of the worst radioactive accidents in U.S. history. In 1979, a dam at the uranium mill’s waste disposal pond breached, releasing over 1,000 tons of radioactive mill waste and 93 million gallons of contaminated water into the Puerco River.
This spill caused widespread contamination of the river, affecting the Navajo Nation’s land, livestock, and water supply.
The site is still contaminated with uranium and other hazards, with long-term monitoring and cleanup ongoing. Progress has been slow due to funding and land ownership issues.
The Navajo Nation faces health issues from radiation exposure, driving continued advocacy for environmental justice and more remediation.
7. Sellafield (United Kingdom)
Location: Cumbria, England
Current Status: Active decommissioning and cleanup site
Sellafield, a major UK nuclear site, was established during World War II for plutonium production and later became a nuclear power and reprocessing plant. It is known for radioactive leaks, waste storage issues, and incidents like material leaks, Irish Sea contamination, and fires in the 1950s.
Sellafield is undergoing a massive decommissioning as reprocessing operations wind down. The cleanup will take decades and cost billions.
The site still stores radioactive waste, and managing it safely is a major challenge. While radiation levels around it have decreased, Sellafield remains one of the UK’s most contaminated and closely monitored areas.
8. Kyshtym Disaster (Russia)
Location: Mayak Production Association, near Kyshtym, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia
Current Status: Contaminated, restricted area under long-term monitoring
The Kyshtym disaster occurred in 1957 at the Mayak Production Association, one of the Soviet Union’s largest nuclear facilities. The incident happened when a storage tank containing highly radioactive waste exploded, releasing a large amount of radiation into the surrounding region.
It is considered the third most serious nuclear accident in history, after Chernobyl and Fukushima, though it remained classified for decades.
The explosion contaminated thousands of square miles, leading to the evacuation of many villages. The “East Ural Radioactive Trace” remains highly radioactive, with some areas still off-limits and others resettled.
The Mayak facility still processes nuclear waste, and the disaster’s legacy includes increased cancer and illness rates in the local population.
9. The Polygon (Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan)
Location: Eastern Kazakhstan, near the town of Kurchatov
Current Status: Contaminated, restricted access with ongoing research and cleanup
The Polygon, or Semipalatinsk Test Site, was the Soviet Union’s main nuclear testing site, with nearly 500 tests from 1949 to 1989. This released vast radioactive materials, contaminating much of eastern Kazakhstan.
The local population, unaware of the dangers, faced severe health issues from long-term radiation exposure, including cancer, birth defects, and genetic mutations.
After Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, The Polygon was closed, but it remains one of the most radioactive places on Earth. Some areas are still highly radioactive and restricted for scientific research.
Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but much of the site remains uninhabitable. The local population continues to be affected by radiation, and long-term health effects are still being studied.
10. Mailuu-Suu (Kyrgyzstan)
Location: Mailuu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan
Current Status: Contaminated, with ongoing efforts to stabilize radioactive waste
Mailuu-Suu is a former Soviet uranium mining town in southern Kyrgyzstan, located along the Mailuu-Suu River. From 1946 to 1968, it was one of the largest producers of uranium ore for the Soviet Union’s nuclear program.
After the mining operations ceased, over 23 tailings (large waste deposits) containing radioactive materials were left behind, poorly managed, and inadequately contained.
The waste poses a major environmental threat due to the risk of landslides releasing radioactive materials into a key river. Earthquakes and landslides have worsened the contamination risk.
Despite stabilization efforts, Mailuu-Suu remains one of Central Asia’s most dangerous radioactive sites. Residents report increased health issues, including cancer and birth defects, from long-term radiation exposure.
11. Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia (Brazil)
Location: Goiânia, Brazil
Current Status: Cleaned, with ongoing health monitoring of affected individuals
In 1987, the Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia in Goiânia experienced one of the worst radioactive contamination incidents.
A discarded radiotherapy machine with cesium-137 was scavenged, and its powder was unknowingly spread by people who handled it. This led to acute radiation exposure for hundreds, resulting in 4 deaths and widespread contamination.
The Brazilian government undertook a large cleanup, decontaminating affected areas. However, psychological and health effects persist for survivors, who continue to receive health monitoring and compensation.
The Goiânia accident highlighted the need for better disposal and control of radioactive medical equipment.
12. Somali Coast (Somalia)
Location: Somali Coast, Indian Ocean
Current Status: Unclear, with ongoing concerns over radioactive waste dumping
In the 1980s and 1990s, amid Somalia’s civil conflict and lack of government, foreign entities allegedly dumped hazardous and radioactive waste along the Somali Coast. In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami reportedly washed some containers ashore, releasing hazardous materials into the environment.
Many local residents have reported illnesses like respiratory problems and skin diseases, but verifying contamination is challenging due to the lack of formal investigation and ongoing political instability in Somalia.
The extent of the dumping is unclear, and international calls for further investigation and cleanup continue, leaving local populations at risk.
13. Siberian Chemical Combine (Russia)
Location: Seversk, Tomsk Oblast, Russia
Current Status: Active, with ongoing decommissioning and cleanup of certain areas
The Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) in Seversk, Russia, was a major Soviet nuclear fuel production and reprocessing facility. Established in 1949, it produced plutonium, enriched uranium, and processed nuclear waste.
The plant suffered multiple accidents, including a notable 1993 explosion that released radioactive gases.
The area around the Siberian Chemical Combine is contaminated by radioactive waste, with ongoing concerns about groundwater and radiation exposure. While the site is partially active in nuclear fuel production, many operations are being decommissioned.
Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but the large amount of stored nuclear waste still poses a risk. The region is under strict security and environmental monitoring.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
