Tuesday is the 30th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster
The Chernobyl accident 30 years ago on April 26, 1986, is the worst disaster in the history of nuclear power generation. Although fewer than 50 deaths have been directly attributed to radiation from the disaster, up to 4,000 people could eventually die of radiation exposure, according to the World Health Organization. USC experts are available to discuss the direct and indirect costs of the Chernobyl accident as well as the long-term health consequences and lessons learned.
Contact: Zen Vuong (213) 300-1381 or zvuong@usc.edu
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Many nations share the astronomical cost of the Chernobyl disaster
“The 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe that exposed some 10 million people to nuclear radiation in the surrounding countries has estimated costs of roughly $700 billion over the past 30 years, according to our extensive review of the literature. Health represents the largest proportion of the indirect costs. These costs greatly exceed those directly related to the plant because this price tag spans a lifetime and possibly even reaches to the next generation. Neuropsychological effects, such as depression, are among the most widespread and expensive of the long-term consequences.”
Jonathan Samet is director of the Institute for Global Health and the Distinguished Professor and Flora L. Thornton Chair of the preventive medicine department at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He has published many reports on the long-term health consequences of the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters. His most recent Chernobyl report could be found at http://www.greencross.ch/en/home.html.
Contact: (323) 865-0803 or jsamet@usc.edu
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Preventable nuclear accidents and the vital role of safety culture
“According to many studies, the root of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident was a deficient safety culture that existed not only at the Chernobyl plant but also throughout the Soviet Union’s nuclear power industry in the 1980s. I cannot think of a more vital factor that could have prevented a nuclear accident than a healthy safety culture at plant, utility and regulatory levels. A plant that fosters safety culture would encourage employees to maintain a questioning attitude and a conscientious approach in all aspects of their job. Safety culture could be both the Achilles’ heel and Daemons of the nuclear power industry.”
Najmedin Meshkati is a professor of civil and environmental engineering and a professor of industrial and systems engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Over the past 30 years, he has studied the Bhopal, Chernobyl, Fukushima and BP Deepwater Horizon disasters.
Contact: (213) 740-8765 or meshkati@usc.edu
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Image: The Chernobyl monument, erected in 2006, can be seen in front of reactor number 4 of the Chernobyl Plant, which was the site of the worst nuclear power plant accident in history in terms of cost and casualties. (Photo/Pixabay)
