The Chernobyl reactor accident: the international significance and results

The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April 1986 killed a number of people, contaminated the region surrounding the plant and caused high levels of radioactive fallout over Scandinavia and Central Europe. These effects are briefly put into perspective. The role of the International Atomic Energy Authority in radiation protection in such instances is discussed. The Operational Safety Review Teams, Incident Reporting System and the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group were already in existence. However the International Community was still unprepared in many ways for an accident such as Chernobyl. The effect of Chernobyl on Government and public attitudes to nuclear power and the challenge that now faces nuclear power are discussed. (U.K.)