Lessons from Chernobyl

by

L.I. Lukina, D.V. Moiseev

 Sevastopol State University, RF, Sevastopol, Universitetskaya St., 33

E-mail: dmitriymoiseev@mail.ru

DOI: 10.33075/2220-5861-2021-2-106-118

UDC 338.24 (075.8)

Abstract:

   In this paper, we analyze the causes of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on April 26, 1986.We are 35 years away from the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. However, its causes and consequences continue to excite the minds of scientists today, remain relevant for the participants in the work on the elimination of the consequences of the accident and for hundreds of thousands of people who lived in the territories exposed to radioactive contamination, for millions of victims of the consequences of the accident. The authors believe that the accident of 1986 at the 4th power unit occurred due to an extremely unlikely combination of circumstances.

   In the history of mankind, this accident went down as one of the largest man-made disasters that led to global radiation pollution. The accident was largely caused by the design features of the RBMK reactor, as well as gross violations of the regulations for its operation by personnel. The main causes of the accident considered in the Information on the Chernobyl accident and its Consequences, prepared for the IAEA by members of the Government Commission of Inquiry on the Causes of the Accident, as well as in the report of the International Advisory Group on Nuclear Safety INSAG-1 in 1986 are: the design features of the RBMK-1000 reactor and the actions of the personnel who made a number of mistakes and grossly violated the rules of operation of the reactor during the SOB tests.

   The main lesson learned from the accident and its consequences, the elimination of which continues to this day, is the need for careful attention of the safe use of scientific and technological progress in such critical infrastructure facilities as nuclear power plants.

Keywords:  radiation accident, Chernobyl NPP, RBMK reactor, radiation pollution, causes of the accident, consequences of the accident.

To quote: Lukina, L.I., and D.V. Moiseev. “Lessons from Chernobyl.” Monitoring Systems of Environment no. 2 (June 24, 2021): 106–118. doi:10.33075/2220-5861-2021-2-106-118.

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