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Unit 1 Chernobyl
The explosion spread radioactive gas and other harmful materials
into the air. The resulting radioactive cloud spread over Russia, Ukraine, and
Belarus. The most serious radiation contamination was limited to the ten
miles around the plant, which is still too contaminated for humans to live in.
A total of 56 people died immediately after the accident, but because the
effects of radiation poisoning often only surface after many years, the true
death toll may never be known. Studies have shown that areas affected by
the accident have cancer rates that are up to ten times higher than normal.
In addition to these serious health problems, the accident had
significant political consequences, both in the Soviet Union and worldwide.
Within the Soviet Union, the accident forced the government to become less
secretive and helped quicken the collapse of the communist government.
Worldwide, it all but stopped the construction of nuclear power plants and
caused many existing power plants to be shut down out of safety concerns.
Now, however, high oil prices and a need for energy are pushing many
countries to turn once again to nuclear power. China, for example, has plans
to build at least two new nuclear power plants each year for the next ten
years. With nuclear power growing once again, one can only hope Chernobyl
remains an isolated incident.
6
The explosion spread radioactive gas and other harmful materials
into the air. The resulting radioactive cloud spread over Russia, Ukraine, and
Belarus. The most serious radiation contamination was limited to the ten
miles around the plant, which is still too contaminated for humans to live in.
A total of 56 people died immediately after the accident, but because the
effects of radiation poisoning often only surface after many years, the true
death toll may never be known. Studies have shown that areas affected by
the accident have cancer rates that are up to ten times higher than normal.
In addition to these serious health problems, the accident had
significant political consequences, both in the Soviet Union and worldwide.
Within the Soviet Union, the accident forced the government to become less
secretive and helped quicken the collapse of the communist government.
Worldwide, it all but stopped the construction of nuclear power plants and
caused many existing power plants to be shut down out of safety concerns.
Now, however, high oil prices and a need for energy are pushing many
countries to turn once again to nuclear power. China, for example, has plans
to build at least two new nuclear power plants each year for the next ten
years. With nuclear power growing once again, one can only hope Chernobyl
remains an isolated incident.
6
