Biomedical Lessons from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident

摘要

The world's worst radiation accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant in the USSR during the early hours of April 26, 1986. This accident unleashed megacuries of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, generated an explosive blast that knocked the thousand-ton lif off the top of the reactor, and sent burning graphite and heat in a plume about three miles high. The aftermath and significance of this disaster are still being realized in the USSR and neighboring countries. This report summarizes the basic information on casualties, triage, and treatment, and the radionuclides released into the atmosphere. The immediate casualties included only plant personnel, firemen, and auxiliary staff present at, or in the vicinity of the accident site.