Title: The legacy of Chernobyl /
Authors: Medvedev, Zhores A., 1925-2018
Publisher: W.W. Norton,
Year: 1990
Subjects: Environmental Pollution; Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Chornobylʹ, Ukraine, 1986 Environmental aspects; Radioactive pollution Environmental aspects.; Accidents; Radioactive Pollutants; Radioactivity; Radioactive pollution.; Ukraine
Abstract: An analysis of the long-term global effects of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl.
Contents: 1. A post-morten of the catastrophe : The Chernobyl RBMK-1000 reactor ; The design problem ; The inadequacy of the initial safety tests ; The set-up for the accident ; The catastrophe ; The reactor operators' view -- 2. Radioactive volcano : Fighting the fire ; The national emergency ; The second meltdown of the core ; The first signs of glasnost' -- 3. The environmental impact : The amount, composition and dynamic of release of radionuclides into the environment ; The level and pattern of radioactive contamination of the environment ; Environmental and ecological effects of the radioactive contamination and decontamination measures -- 4. The impact on agriculture : The contamination and loss of agricultural land ; The effect on livestock agriculture ; Other forms of agriculture and the rural population -- 5. The health impact in the Soviet Union : The initial on-site emergency medical response ; The off-site emergency medical response ; The exclusion zone and the second phase of evacuation ; Radiation protection of the general public ; The long-term health effects -- 6. The global impact : The Nordic countries ; Central and Eastern Europe ; The European community ; The rest of the world -- 7. The Soviet Nuclear Energy Programme : A brief history of the Soviet uranium project ; RBMK reactors ; The second line: pressurized-water reactors ; Fast-breeder reactors ; Nuclear central heating ; Debates about nuclear power -- 8. A history of nuclear accidents in the Soviet Union : Reactor accidents ; Reactor accidents for which there are no records ; The Kyshtym nuclear accident -- 9. Nuclear power after Chernobyl : Soviet energy options ; The energy crisis after Chernobyl ; The future of new-generation nuclear power stations.