Truth behind chilling photo of two women sitting on 'the most radioactive thing in Chernobyl'

A photo of two women sitting on 'one of the most radioactive things in the world' has been explained.

The snap, featuring two women who decided while visiting the Chernobyl exclusion zone that it would be a good idea to pose with the object, has started to resurface online.

Tourists could still visit the area under the guidance of a certified guide, just decades on from the horrific accident which took place at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine. However, the war between Russia and Ukraine has meant that this can no longer happen.

As for Chernobyl, the nuclear power plant infamously exploded following the explosion of reaction number four, rendering the area uninhabitable for the foreseeable future.

There are several reminders of the disaster in the area, which would be enough to put most off from ever visiting.

The tourists thought it'd be a bright idea to make contact with the radioactive claw (Reddit)

While the Elephant's Foot is the single most dangerous and radioactive object in the world, it is confined within the walls of the nuclear power station, under the 'New Safe Confinement' placed around it.

Another dangerous and infamous item left over from the disaster is a large claw from a digger, which was initially used to clear radioactive material from the remains of reactor number four.

But this didn't stop a pair of tourists from getting on the claw itself, making contact with the radioactive material. If it needs to be said, please do not try this yourselves.

It's said that they likely didn't spend enough time next to it to suffer from any long-term health effects, as Radiation Answers says that a few minutes near the claw would only result in the pair absorbing a few microsieverts of radiation.

People reacted to the image on Reddit, though, as one explained that while a chest x-ray is equivalent to 0.1mSv, less than 20 minutes next to the claw, which emits just 0.3mSv/hour, would be the equivalent amount of exposure.

The Elephant's Foot has been cut off from the public for good due to its radioactivity levels (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

"Big deal? Nope. Would I needlessly get up close and personal with this junk? Also nope," they added, while another wrote: "The reason this thing is radioactive is that it's coated with radioactive dust and dirt. Things that might cling to the skin and clothes of whoever touches them and continue emitting radiation for a long time, and possibly ingested."

A third added: "It’s the most radioactive thing in the exclusion zone accessible to visitors."

This is child's play compared to the Elephant's Foot, though, as 30 unprotected seconds of exposure could cost you your life.

It will cause fatigue and dizziness, before your cells start to haemorrhage and cause you to start vomiting and experiencing diarrhoea, along with a fever.

Despite being around for almost 40 years, the item emits heat and reminds us of the disaster that is Chernobyl, as 31 people died from radiation sickness and injuries, and long-term effects of radiation exposure caused more deaths.