Publication Laka-library:
Chernobyl ten years on. Radiological and health impact (1995)
| Author | NEA |
| Date | November 1995 |
| Classification | 2.34.8.11/26 (CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT - CONSEQUENCES SURROUNDINGS - MEDICAL & MUTATIONS) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction On 26 April, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power station, in Ukraine, suffered a major accident which was followed by a prolonged release to the atmosphere of large quantities of radioactive substances. The specific features of the release favoured a widespread distribution of radioactivity throughout the northern hemisphere, mainly across Europe. A contributing factor was the variation of meteorological conditions and wind regimes during the period of release. Activity transported by the multiple plumes from Chernobyl was measured not only in Northern and in Southern Europe, but also in Canada, Japan and the United States. Only the Southern hemisphere remained free of contamination. This had serious radiological, health and socio-economic consequences for the populations of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, and to some extent they are still suffering from these consequences. Although the radiological impact of the accident in other countries was generally very low, and even insignificant outside Europe, this event had, however, the effect of enhancing public apprehension all over the world on the risks associated with the use of nuclear energy. This is one of the reasons explaining the renewed attention and effort devoted during the last decade to the reactor safety studies and to emergency preparedness by public authorities and the nuclear industry. This also underlies the continuing attention of the public opinion to the situation at Chernobyl. The forthcoming tenth anniversary of the accident appears, therefore, the right moment to review the status of our knowledge of the serious aspects of the accident impact, to take stock of the information accumulated and the scientific studies underway, as well as to assess the degree to which national authorities and experts have implemented the numerous lessons that the Chernobyl accident taught us.
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