Overview

On 26 April 1986, the most serious accident in the history of the nuclear industry occurred at Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Since that time there has been much confusion about the real consequences of the accident, including implications for health, the environment, nuclear safety, society and the economies of countries affected by the accident. In 1996 at the time of the tenth anniversary there were major reviews of the information available in an attempt to clarify and synthesise a consensus on the actual consequences of the accident. Below are some links to the key sources of reliable information.

• International Conference: One Decade after Chernobyl - summing up the consequences of the accident
  This Conference, cosponsored by IAEA, WHO and the European Commission was held in Vienna, Austria 8-12 April 1996. The conference results are presented here along with abstracts from some of the background papers.

• Articles in the IAEA Bulletin summarizing the consequences
  The articles address for a broad audience the impact the accident has had on health, environment, nuclear safety, society, the economy and the prognosis for the future, based on the formal conclusions of the International Conference.

• "Ten Years after Chernobyl : What do we really know ?"
  An information brochure for the public based on the proceedings of the IAEA/EC/WHO International Conference: One Decade after Chernobyl.

• Advice on conditions in the contaminated areas of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. This guidance is for people living and working for extended periods with their families and children in those areas contaminated by the fallout from the Chernobyl accident.

• Report of the Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD) on "Chernobyl: Ten Years On - radiological and health impact"
  This NEA report published at the tenth anniversary provides an appraisal of the accident consequences for technically minded non-specialists.