30 years After the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: Time for Reflection and Re-evaluation of Current Disaster Preparedness Plans

Abstract

It has been 30 years since the worst accident in the history of the nuclear era occurred at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine close to densely populated urban areas. To date, epidemiological studies reported increased long-term risks of leukemia, cardiovascular diseases, and cataracts among cleanup workers and of thyroid cancer and non-malignant diseases in those exposed as children and adolescents. Mental health effects were the most significant public health consequence of the accident in the three most contaminated countries of Ukraine, Belarus, and the Russian Federation. Timely and clear communication with affected populations emerged as one of the main lessons in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. KEYWORDS Chernobyl nuclear accident, Radiation effects, Cancers, Radiation induced, Psychological effects, Disaster relief planningAs we near the 30-year mark of the worst nuclear power plant accident known to mankind, it is an opportune time to pause and critically reflect upon lessons learned as well as to think how we could utilize this knowledge to improve current disaster preparedness and management plans. Chernobyl nuclear power plant's geographical location in Ukraine-less than 20 km from the borders of two other post-Soviet countries of Belarus and the Russian Federation, close to densely populated urban areas-could provide pertinent information for a variety of scenarios considered by public health officials in drawing nuclear disaster preparedness plans, particularly with regards to a Bdirty^bomb.The accident at the Chernobyl (Ukrainian spelling BChornobyl^) nuclear power plant on April 26, 1986, was due to a planned scientific experiment which went awry and resulted in the release of radioactive materials into the air for about 10 days.1 Due to the prevailing wind patterns (in the Western and Northern directions in the first days after the accident and then in all directions), the long-range transport of various radionuclides caused serious contamination of the regions both close to the site of the accident but also throughout Europe. Scientific reports by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) have emphasized that three population groups in the three most affected countries had the highest levels of radioactive contamination and were at risk of long-term health effects from radiation exposures: (1) recovery operation workers (Bliquidators^or Bcleanup workers,^n = 530,000); (2) evacuees from contaminated areas (n = 115,000); and (3) inhabitants of contaminated areas (n = 6,400,000).2 The last group received low radiation doses equivalent to

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