Lessons for the Soviets

The paper concerns the lessons to be learnt from the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant. These lessons are examined with respect to:-the events during the accident and management of the emergency action, the release of radionuclides, possibility of contamination of the river Pripyat, the medical consequences of the accident and the Chernobyl 'sarcophagus'. Improvements in the Soviet nuclear programme in the light of the accident are briefly outlined. (UK)