Lessons from Chornobyl: Considerations for Strengthening Radiation Emergency Preparedness in Ukraine: Table 1.

Bazyka, Dimitry; Belyi, David; Чумак, А А

doi:10.1093/rpd/ncw196

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Part of preparedness for an eventual nuclear event is building a structure of radiation protection experts, professionals, environmental protection workers for cooperation, and good practice elaboration. Field exercises for fire brigades or environmental protection personnel specializing in working with ionizing radiation should also be carried out on a regular and competitive basis [16].…”

Section: Preparednessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Health Decision Making in the Case of the Use of a Nuclear Weapon

Długosz‐Lisiecka

2022

IJERPH

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The current geopolitical situation and the war on Ukraine’s territory generate questions about the possible use of a nuclear weapon and create the need to refresh emergency protective plans for the population. Ensuring the protection of public health is a national responsibility, but the problem is of international size and global scale. Radiological or nuclear disasters need suitable decision making at the right time, which determine large effective radiation protection activities to ensure public health is protected, reduce fatalities, radiation disease, and other effects. In this study, a simulation of a single nuclear weapon detonation with an explosion yield of 0.3 and 1 Mt was applied for a hypothetical location, to indicate the required decision making and the need to trigger protocols for the protection of the population. The simulated explosion was located in a city center, in a European country, for the estimation of the size of the effects of the explosion and its consequences for public health. Based on the simulation results and knowledge obtained from historical nuclear events, practical suggestions, discussion, a review of the recommendations was conducted, exacerbated by the time constraints of a public health emergency. Making science-based decisions should encompass clear procedures with specific activities triggered immediately based on confirmed information, acquired from active or/and passive warning systems and radiometric specific analysis provided by authorized laboratories. This study has the potential to support the preparedness of decision makers in the event of a disaster or crisis-related emergency for population health management and summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the current ability to respond.

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Section: Preparednessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Health Decision Making in the Case of the Use of a Nuclear Weapon

Długosz‐Lisiecka

2022

IJERPH

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“…Serious accidents at nuclear power plants have been rare, but their stories can teach us how to prevent or mitigate the effects of future nuclear catastrophes. The accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and Chernobyl nuclear power plant occurred 9 years and 34 years ago, respectively, and there are still lessons to learn from them regarding numerous issues, including radiation exposure assessment and medical follow-up of emergency responders, evacuees and residents; decisions to lift evacuation orders; and communication with responders and stakeholders ( Bazyka et al, 2016 , Callen and Homma, 2017 , Lester, 1983 , Soffer et al, 2008 ). Some of the lessons from these accidents have been extensively reviewed and taken into consideration by national and international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the World Health Organisation and are reflected in published literature ( Bennett et al, 2006 , Carr et al, 2016 , Clarke and Valentin, 2009 , IAEA, 2015a , IAEA, 2015b , Nisbet et al, 2009 , SGDSN, 2014 ).…”

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confidence: 99%