Academic Writing: Chernobyl Nuclear Accident 1986 - ENG 1100

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the Chernobyl nuclear accident of 1986. It begins by establishing the historical context, including the location near Pripyat, Ukraine, and the circumstances leading up to the disaster. The essay details the events of the accident, including the reactor design flaws, operator errors, and the resulting explosion that released significant amounts of radioactive material. It then explores the immediate and long-term impacts, such as fatalities, health effects (including thyroid cancer and psychological trauma), and economic consequences. The essay also evaluates the significance of the event, highlighting its role as a major turning point in nuclear safety and its lasting legacy in terms of environmental impact, public perception, and international cooperation. The essay concludes by summarizing the key points and reiterating the importance of the Chernobyl disaster as a critical event in human history.

RUNNING HEAD: CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT 1986
English Essay

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Contents
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................6

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The essay is prepared on the ‘Chernobyl Nuclear Accident 1986’. A major nuclear
accident had taken place in the Ukraine in the year 1986 (Bressan, 2019). It includes the details
of the nuclear disaster. It comprises of the major reasons for the emergence of such event and
their role the disaster happening. Additionally, it includes the facts and specifics of the
happening. After providing with the necessary details of the same, its impact and significance is
also evaluated to gain better understanding of the nuclear accident. Moreover, it also comprises
of the legacy of the nuclear accident. The thesis statement of the essay is to lay emphasis on the
major happening of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
26th April 1986 was marked by a major nuclear accident named as Chernobyl Disaster. It
took place near the city of Pripyat. It is located in the northern region of Ukraine. The nuclear
disaster was marked as one of the most severe as it calculated at a scale of seven. It is an
exclusive occurrence as it has caused fatal accidents (Saenko, 2011).
The major miss happening is the result of poor design of apparatus and the insufficiently
trained workers that were operating the reactor. The operators ran the plant at a reduced power
and without following the adequate safety measures. The Chernobyl equipment has a structure
different from an ideal nuclear plant. In the absence of ideal features, the harmful radioactive
essentials escaped in the environment (Peterson, 2016). Four Chernobyl apparatus pressurized
the high power reactor, as they were highly unsteady at the reduced power supply. These factors
led to the destruction of the Chernobyl. The sudden flow of power resulted in the extreme heat
that had ruptured the pressured the fuel ducts. The fuel responded with the water that led to
explosion of steam. It ultimately releases around 5% of the radioactive apparatus core in the
atmosphere. The fire generated from the explosion burned for 10 days (NEI, 2019).
As per the soviet scientist report, it was estimated that Chernobyl apparatus has about 190
metric tons of uranium dioxide fuel and fission products. It was reported that about 30 percent of
these harmful chemicals had released in the environment. Further, these chemicals had
contaminated the 60% of atmosphere (NEI, 2019)
The impact of the nuclear disaster was very severe as two workers died simultaneously
during the explosion. Within a span of three months, it has led to the death of 30 operators and
firefighter (Organization, 2019). Within the span of 36 hours, the soviet experts had shifted

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around 115000 people away from the accident place (NEI, 2019). By 1987, strength of 220000
people had resettled in a place away from contaminated area. It was estimated that within the few
weeks of the accident, 31 people were deceased due to thermal injury and exposure to the
injurious radiations.
The accident has released a great volume of uncontrolled radioactive elements for
approximately ten days. It resulted in the widespread disease of thyroid cancer due to the
consumption of radioactive element (Organization, 2019). As per the UNSCEAR report, it was
estimated that around 20000 cases of Thyroid cancer were registered from 1991 to 2015. Animal
fodder and milk production has been used to reduce the thyroid level. People residing near the
place of the accident have suffered from low whole body and thus they were provided with doses
to overcome from the impact of radiation.
One of the depressing effects of the same is that because of the radiation exposure,
pregnant women were suggested for abortion. As per the Chernobyl forum report, due to the
threat of the radioactivity, a voluminous people had suffered from paralyzing fatalism. There was
a poor status of health and nutrition among the people (NEI, 2019). Despite of physical injuries,
people were also affected psychologically and socially. It was because of the economic
instability and threats of the future generations. People were facing the issue of worries and
confusion. Moreover, it was reported that affected group continued to face strain, nervousness
and other symptoms of mental problem. These health issues had resulted in the overconsumption
of liquor, tobacco and mushrooms (LiVolsi, 2011).
Part of affected group also suffered from the Cardiovascular and Leukemia disease
(Mara, 2010). It has also led to Cataract among the survivors. It is a medical condition that
results in blurred vision and thus gradually makes the lens of the eye opaque. People were facing
the problem of blurred vision because of their eyes were exposed to the radiation caused by the
blast.
It was assessed that government took several measures to protect the public of the
country. Some of these measures are decontaminating the affected area land, providing sanitary
fodder to the farm wildlife. Government had taken actions for the rehabilitation of the effected
population. Additionally, the authorities had invested a large amount in the construction of

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damaged physical infrastructure. These include hospitals, schools and development of roads. In
order to reduce the risk of fire, it had also provided the access to the gas to the local population.
It was examined that cultivation of food and farming is taking place in uncontaminated land
(Burgan, 2018).
Strength of seven million people was provided with financial aid including pensions.
Additionally they were also given health care facilities (Facts, 2019). The effect of the disaster
was marked long lasting and thus it had gathered the global attention. It had incurred the loss of
$235 billion. Moreover, in the year 2011, Chernobyl was listed as an attractive venue for tourist
(NEI, 2019).
Significance of the same is that it was world worst nuclear explosion that was result of
human fault. It has led to the death of around 4000 people because of exposure to the radiation.
Additionally, its affect was not limited to the Ukraine location but it had severely affected the
Russia Europe. Its high radiation exposure has caused the forest to turn red. This forest covers an
area of four squares miles and popularly known as ‘Red Forest’ (Mcrae, 2013).
Additionally, it had a long-term effect on the health of the people as 4000 people were
diagnosed with radiation cancer and about 5000 people has faced other health related issues.
Moreover, it has led to the massive expense of about $235 billion to the government. It effect
was marked as huge level and thus representing it as a tourist spot (Blakemore, 2019).
As per the British charity, its consequences were so devastating that the affected zone is
not considered safe for the people for more than 24000 years (History, 2018). The infants near
the affected place are born with birth defects and cancer. Even after three decade to the disaster,
its effects are still prevailing in the people and the wildlife. Newborn babies are born with
missing body parts or improper body. The nuclear accident had changed the thinking of the
world, as countries are now being more precautions in operation of the nuclear plant (Burridge,
2016).
The essay summarizes on ‘Chernobyl Nuclear Accident 1986’. It is analyzed that it was
one major nuclear disaster. It was occurred due to the poor apparatus quality and inefficiency of
the operators towards handling the nuclear reactor. It was a major accident and thus its impact
was high. It had severely affected the health of the public and thus led to the spread of thyroid

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cancer, cardiovascular, Leukemia, cataract, strain, nervousness and other mental diseases.
Additionally, it had also incurred a huge economic loss of the government in respect of providing
health aid, rehabilitation and meeting the other monetary expenses. Because of its wide
destruction, it was also included in the list of tourist attraction. Hence, it was one of the severe
accidents in the history of nuclear accident.

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Bibliography
Blakemore, E. (2019, July 17). The Chernobyl disaster: What happened, and the long-term
impacts. Retrieved from National Geographic:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/chernobyl-disaster/
Bressan, D. (2019, July 19). How The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Meltdown Formed World's Most
Dangerous Lava. Retrieved from Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2019/06/14/how-the-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-
meltdown-formed-worlds-most-dangerous-lava-flow/#208424ce1691
Burgan, M. (2018). Chernobyl Explosion: How a Deadly Nuclear Accident Frightened the
World. North Mankato: Capstone.
Burridge, T. (2016, April 26). Chernobyl's legacy 30 years on. Retrieved from BBC News:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36115240
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https://www.greenfacts.org/en/chernobyl/l-3/5-social-economic-impacts.htm
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https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/chernobyl
LiVolsi, V. A. (2011). The Chernobyl thyroid cancer experience: pathology. Clinical oncology,
23(4), 261-267.
Mara, W. (2010). The Chernobyl Disaster: Legacy and Impact on the Future of Nuclear Energy.
Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.
Mcrae, M. (2013, May 9). First Drone Survey of Chernobyl's 'Red Forest' Reveals Staggering
Radioactive Hotspots. Retrieved from Science Alert:
https://www.sciencealert.com/drone-flyovers-of-chernobyl-reveal-incredible-radiation-
hotspots-in-unprecedented-detail
NEI. (2019, July 16). Chernobyl Accident and Its Consequences. Retrieved from NEI:
https://www.nei.org/resources/fact-sheets/chernobyl-accident-and-its-consequences

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NEI. (2019, July 16). Chernobyl Accident and Its Consequences. Retrieved from NEI:
https://www.nei.org/resources/fact-sheets/chernobyl-accident-and-its-consequences
Organization, W. N. (2019, Juy 16). Chernobyl Accident 1986. Retrieved from World Nuclear
Organization: https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/
safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident.aspx
Peterson, M. (2016). Chernobyl Disaster. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Saenko, V. I. (2011). The Chernobyl accident and its consequences. Clinical Oncology, 23(4),
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