Risk and Safety in Post-Soviet Russia

摘要

This document presents the results of a study of risk and safety for the population of Russia. It was prepared shortly after the dissolution of the USSR, when Russia was dealing with several zones of ecological distress as a consequence of a number of large-scale technogenic disasters, including some serious radiation situations. All these events had a pronounced negative effect on the general living conditions and led to a reduction of life expectancy, a sharp increase of morbidity and mortality, and harmful genetic after effects for the populations involved. National health and life expectancy have improved considerably since then; however, the author's analysis of the situation is still helpful for modern risk and safety considerations. Part I is a detailed analysis of the risk of death for the population of the Russian Federation due to disease, exposure to natural and man-made environments, professional and non- professional activity, and various social factors. Part II studies radiation exposure databases from Chernobyl, radioactive contamination from long-term operation of large radiochemical atomic plants, and the impact of atmospheric nuclear tests. The author proposes a new approach to radiation risk assessment, which is based on consideration of the distribution of both radiation doses and individual variations in radiosensitivity.