Interesting Fact

Chernobyl's fourth nuclear reactor experienced the meltdown at 1:21 a.m. and expunged 30 to 40 times more radiation than the nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

Causes

According to the World Nuclear Association, the Chernobyl accident happened due to two main reasons: the reactor was simply poorly built and the employees operating the reactor did not have enough experience and training.

Effects

The true impact of the Chernobyl is extremely difficult to ascertain because of the large area contaminated by radiation and amount of people potentially affected. Thirty-one workers died immediately or within weeks. Thyroid cancer rates increased (how much is again up for debate) from 1986 to 2002 in children from Chernobyl, but 98.8 percent of 1,152 sufferers survived.

Significance

Chernobyl became a symbol for environmentalists who wanted to abate the burgeoning use of nuclear power, and for the crumbling, secretive Soviet government and its disregard for the health and care of its workers.

Considerations

Nobody outside of Eastern Russia used the same design for their nuclear, and thus Chernobyl is really an anomaly in nuclear power history, which has a rather impressive safety record otherwise.

Source:

U.S. Library of Congress: Chernobyl

World Nuclear Association: Chernobyl Accident

World Nuclear Association: Health Impacts