After the Chernobyl reactor explosion on April 26, 1986, a radioactive cloud containing iodine-131, cesium-137, and other isotopes was released into the atmosphere. Winds carried the cloud northwest over Belarus and across much of Europe, including Sweden, Poland, Germany, and even parts of the UK. Rainfall caused uneven fallout, creating localized contamination zones. The most severe effects were near the Chernobyl site, but the widespread movement of the cloud raised global concern and prompte