For example, the initial radiation cloud blew over vegetable fields. When radiation levels in the vegetables were found to be too high, farmers lost crop revenue, and there were vegetable shortages in the markets. Consumers probably paid more to buy the same product grown in unaffected regions. In some cases contaminated products still found their way to market and were eaten, increasing people's health risks. Have a class discussion about how this incident affected other countries.
Rain can also affect the transportation and concentration of airborne pollutants.
Wind and rain can spread the effects of a disaster over a large area. Using the maps, identify countries and major cities that would have been affected if the wind had been blowing toward the south and west. Have students speculate on the reaction of governments and their citizens if news of the incident had been shared immediately instead of several days afterward. Analyze the effects of airborne emissions from a local factory, coal-burning plant, or nuclear power plant. Nicole Sweet of East Valley Middle School in Spokane, Washington, contributed classroom ideas for Standard 14.