On April 25th–26th, 1986 the World’s worst nuclear power accident occurred at Chernobyl in the former USSR (now Ukraine). The Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 80 miles north of Kiev had 4 reactors and while testing reactor number 4, numerous safety procedures were disregarded. At 1:23 am the chain reaction in the reactor became out of control creating explosions and a fireball which blew off the reactor’s heavy steel and concrete lid.
The Chernobyl accident killed more than 30 people immediately, and as a result of the high radiation levels in the surrounding 20 mile radius, 135 00 people had to be evacuated. Figures from the Ukraine Radiological Institute suggest that over 2 500 deaths were caused by the Chernobyl accident.
Health and Psychological Consequences of Chernobyl
Health Effects
Increase in Thyroid Cancer. Between 1981 and 1985, the five years preceding the accident, the average thyroid cancer rate was 4-6 incidents per million Ukrainian young children (birth to 15 years). However between 1986 and 1997 this rose to 45 incidents per million. Researchers also found that 64% of all Ukrainian thyroid cancer patients age 15 of younger lived in the most contaminated regions (the provinces of Kiev, Chernigov, Zhitomir, Cherkassy, and Rovno and the city of Kiev)
Increase in Other Cancers. There have also been some reports in increases of specific cancers in certain populations living in contaminated areas and among liquidators. (Those who helped with the clean up of the accident)
Psychological Consequences There have been significant increases in psychological health disorders and incidence such as: l anxiety l depression l helplessness and despair leading to social withdrawal and loss of hope for the future l other disorders attributable to mental stress