Radiation Tidbits - Chernobyl: The 20-Year Anniversary (I)
Written by: Yeung Siu-wai
On 26 April 1986, an explosion occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, in which large amount of radioactive materials were released, affecting Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and other places in Europe. This is the worst accident in the history of nuclear power industry and is still well remembered after twenty years. Public concern on the radiation and health impact in the aftermath of the accident remains high. Many international organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) have published reports on the event, death toll, radiation dose and impact on health and environment. Drawing on these reports, this column presents a brief account of the Chernobyl accident. The current article is the first of three parts.
The damaged Unit 4 reactor in the Chernobyl accident
(Source: The Chernobyl Forum)
- Location of the Chernobyl nuclear power station and plant information
- The RBMK-1000 reactor used in the Chernobyl nuclear power station
- The Chernobyl accident
- What other reactor types are used for commercial operation other than the RBMK-1000 used in the Chernobyl nuclear power station?
- Will the Chernobyl-type accident occur at the Daya Bay nuclear power stations?
( To be continued in the next issue )
