title: Consequences and countermeasures in a nuclear power accident: Chernobyl experience.
abstract: Despite the tragic accidents in Fukushima and Chernobyl, the nuclear power industry will continue to contribute to the production of electric energy worldwide until there are efficient and sustainable alternative sources of energy. The Chernobyl nuclear accident, which occurred 26 years ago in the former Soviet Union, released an immense amount of radioactivity over vast territories of Belarus, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation, extending into northern Europe, and became the most severe accident in the history of the nuclear industry. This disaster was a result of numerous factors including inadequate nuclear power plant design, human errors, and violation of safety measures. The lessons learned from nuclear accidents will continue to strengthen the safety design of new reactor installations, but with more than 400 active nuclear power stations worldwide and 104 reactors in the Unites States, it is essential to reassess fundamental issues related to the Chernobyl experience as it continues to evolve. This article summarizes early and late events of the incident, the impact on thyroid health, and attempts to reduce agricultural radioactive contamination.
authors.affiliation: McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Vladimir A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kirichenko
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kirichenko
authors.forename: Day E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Werts
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000398:Air Pollution, Radioactive / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005507:Food Contamination, Radioactive / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014455:Ukraine; D018505:Waste Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data