Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and looks at writers who have made a profound impact on the response to the disaster. The writer notes that the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Soviet Union in 1986 was one of the worst disasters of the 20th century, and it has had horrible effects on the people who lived anywhere near the nuclear plant. The writer points out that many writers and artists have had a profound impact on the response to Chernobyl. The writer discusses that some writers are still contributing to that impact with continuing coverage of the aftermath of Chernobyl and how it has affected the citizens of Russia and worst of all, how it has affected their children, and continues to affect the area, more than 20 years after the disaster.
From the Paper "Most of the families are extremely poor, and have little hope for the future. Authors De Jong and Knoth corroborate this poverty and hopelessness in their photo-essay that chronicles children and adults throughout the Belarus region. Some have committed suicide, others have abandoned their newborn children at hospitals because of their health conditions, and few have moved away, because they do not have the resources to do so. These authors graphically illustrate how horrible the disaster was, the magnitude of the radiation, and how radiation lingers throughout the region, but the people go on living their lives just as they did before. They bathe, fish, and hunt in contaminated rivers, eat contaminated food grown in contaminated soil, and live in towns and villages too contaminated to support life, yet the government does nothing."
Abstract This paper examines the effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the local population and on the local industries. There is an emphasis on the role of legalities in this event, especially in respect to international regulations that were developed in order to ensure that such an accident would most likely never occur again if it could possibly be prevented.
Abstract This paper discusses how the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is one of the worst catastrophes to strike the world and how radioactive material was scattered all over, leading to a severe radiation hazard that was not restricted to Ukraine and the places in the immediate vicinity, but affected most of the nations on the European continent. In particular, it examines how the severity of the problem can be ascertained by the grave environmental implications and the serious damage it caused to the ecosystem.
Outline
Introduction
The Accident (A Brief Outlook)
Health Consequences
Long-Term Effects
Habitat Destruction
Radiation and Thyroid Cancer
Conclusion
From the Paper "Basically the health impact of Chernobyl accident has been studied under two different categories namely "Acute health effects" and "Stochastic effects". The acute health effects are those that were suffered by the first line disaster management team, those who had short range and intense exposure. The level of radiation exposure is measured by looking at the lymphocyte count in the blood. Radiation exposure severely reduces lymphocytophenia. (Circulation of Lymphocytes). As a direct result of the severe radiation the emergency workers developed erythema, vomiting and diarrhea and other symptoms of acute radiation sickness. Some of them developed reduced bone marrow function necessitating transplants."
Abstract The paper describes the nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Russia and its resulting radiation contamination to the surrounding areas. The paper discusses the release of iodine-131 that caused thyroid cancer with several fatalities. The writer asserts that the environmental and biological effects of nuclear accidents can be very extensive and must be studied before the extensive use of nuclear power is utilized.
From the Paper "The nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine has the dubious distinction of being the worst nuclear disaster to date. The results of the disaster were enormous and affected numerous aspects of life in the Soviet Union. Many topics, such as health, the environment and political stability were all negatively changed following the accident. Thankfully, the world has not experienced such an event since, as the hazards are great indeed. One of the health concerns in the years since the disaster has been the rise in cases of thyroid cancer in children. This rise in cancer rates is directly related to the accident."
Abstract The paper describes the 1986 accident at the nuclear power station in Chernobyl, Ukraine and the effects caused by the radiation release. The paper discusses the many cases of thyroid cancer by residents exposed as children and the effects to workers that eventually culminated in four thousand radiation-related cancer deaths. The paper then looks at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) response.
From the Paper "An accident occurred on April 26, 1986 at Unit 4 of the nuclear power station located in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the former USSR. It is reported to have been caused by a sudden surge of power that destroyed the reactor releasing massive amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Both boron and sand were poured from the air onto the reactor in order to stop the fire and prevent any further significant release of the material. A temporary "sarcophagus" was created to entomb the damaged unit. Actions to reduce contamination in and around the site included cutting down and burying one square mile of a nearby pine forest. Immediately after the incident occurred, access within an eighteen-mile radius was closed off except for those individuals with official access for evaluation purposes and others who were responsible for managing the other undamaged units (U.S. NRC)."
Tags: exposure, radiation, radioactivity, contamination, thyroid, cancer
Abstract This paper discusses the workings of fission reactor and focuses on the safety concerns connected with the production of nuclear power. The author looks at how most countries use nuclear energy for the development of military weapons though in some places it is also being used for peaceful purposes.
From the Paper "Nuclear power plants are used in for the production of nuclear fission power, which is used later in the production of military weapons. For the production of power, fission reactor is used which contains fissionable elements which when bombarded with neutrons produce some other elements including barium, plutonium and uranium. All these are later used in the creation of military weapons and some other similar products. Though the governments of the world in possession of nuclear power come under attack often, it is nonetheless considered a symbol of power over other nations. A fission reactor is used to produce a chain reaction with the help of uranium and plutonium and special devices are used for the purpose of regulating the rate of fission."
This paper discusses the reindeer herding Sami people, who were called the Lapplanders and live across an arc of land in the northernmost section of Western Europe.
Abstract This paper discusses the Sami who interest anthropologists because their culture has remained relatively unchanged for centuries and represents the pastoralist origins of the majority of human civilizations. The paper explains that the Sami face two major problems: Contamination to the reindeer from Chernobyl and threats from the lumber industry to take their land. The paper describes the Sami's use of modern technology such as snowmobiles and the World Wide Web.
From the Paper "Pastoralist societies are always at least semi-migratory for the simply reason that if the people stay with their herds in any one place for too long the herds will degrade the pasturage through over-grazing and it may take years to recover. The Sami, like other pastoralists in the past and in the present, move with the herds to wherever the grazing is best at that time of year. They also are forced to move frequently because if they were to stay in any one place for too long the herds would strip the fields where they graze, causing long-term destructive to the pasturage. Thus, while the Sami who herd animals return each year to the same pasturage, their life is essentially nomadic, interrupted with periods of semi-permanent settlement."
Abstract Centers on 2 incidents. Exxon Valdez wreck & oil spill & Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown. Examines how individual communities, governements & other social institutions responded to the accidents. Political, social, economic & historical context. Envioronmental effect. Public health.
From the Paper "One might think that there is a standardized response to disaster, something imprinted on our brains through evolutionary processes. We should be programmed to respond to the eruption of terrible events just as we are programmed to fight or flight by millennia of natural selection.
But there are dramatically different responses depending both on an individual's personality and ? perhaps even more importantly ? by the nature of the disaster. People rush into burning buildings to save children with seemingly no thought to save themselves. But when they see a person dying from AIDS ? or Ebola ? they turn and flee, even when the risk to themselves is far less. This has to do partly with poor risk assessment skills, and partly it seems to do with culturally ingrained values. We may well be taught from childhood onward that we have a moral..."
Abstract This paper attempts to understand how people respond to technological disasters as opposed to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. It examines two specific instances of such a catastrophe, the Exxon Valdez wreck and the Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown. It evaluates the psychological aspect of the way in which people prepare for catastrophes since technological disasters are human created and we understand when faced with them that we are (at least as a species if not as individuals) responsible for their occurrence. It looks at how these two specific incidents were chosen because they were thoroughly witnessed and documented, allowing us to examine how individuals, communities and social institutions ? including governments ? have responded in the case of such accidents. It evaluates how both of these disasters were embedded in political, social and economic contexts and how they would not have occurred if the historical events leading up to them had been different.
From the Paper "Susan Cutter, in her book Living with Risk, suggests that public response to technological hazards is often ambiguous, resulting in over-reaction, under-reaction, and often no reaction at all. People have learned to prepare for and how to respond to tornadoes (for example). They know where tornadoes may be expected to occur, during what time of the year, what kind of weather produces them, how they sound when they are approaching. People have learned what an individual can do to increase his or her chances of survival, including having access to an underground shelter and seek that shelter rapidly when bad weather threatens."
Abstract This paper explains that the explosion of Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Ukraine in 1986, has left a legacy that the risks of the using of nuclear power are so negative and so intense that it is often overlooked as the powerful tool. The author points out that the public concern about the use of nuclear power is that an uncontrolled accidental nuclear chain reaction can create so much heat that it resembles some of the most destructive bombs ever made. The paper relates that, although nuclear weapons are certainly the most commonly perceived use of nuclear power, nuclear science also is used to power nuclear vessels and for medical uses such as tumor treatment and tracer techniques.
From the Paper "Of course, there are other medical uses. The benefits must be weighed in relation to the risks when deciding whether to use these medical tools. Although these benefits are clear to some, the effects of nuclear power and their resulting health hazards cause confusion for others. For example, radioactive waste is extremely toxic and is so poisonous that it can affect people 1,000 years into the future. It can damage the kidneys or lungs, and children are especially vulnerable because their cells divide rapidly as they grow. In pregnant women, it can cross the placenta into the bloodstream of the fetus. In plants and animals, the effects can be passed through the food chain. Humans take in these radioactive materials chiefly from drinking water and from plant and animal foods, including milk. Many fallout isotopes that reach the sea and inland waterways eventually end up in concentrated form in the bodies of waterborne animals and plants, becoming a source of concern when they are part of the human food chain."
Abstract This paper discusses the impact on society of nuclear power generation technology. It describes the history of the global prominence that nuclear power has attained and the role it has played in the shifting of popular attitudes towards science and technology, in general. The paper shows how this technology - although critical to the production of energy in places such as Ontario - is also viewed with fear and scepticism by much of the population.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Popular Fears of Nuclear Power
The Post-Chernobyl Costs of Nuclear Power
The Future Role of Nuclear Power in Our Society
Conclusion
From the Paper "Unless science and technology discover some previously unknown form of energy, it is clear that nuclear power technology - despite popular anxiety - is likely to expand its significance in our society in the future. There is simply no alternative energy supply to fossil fuels that can offer the large amounts of energy that nuclear power offers. Moreover, in a political environment where fossil fuels are also viewed with considerable negativity among the public for contributing to pollution and global warming, even the negative optics of nuclear power may be lessened in comparison. Thus, while it is admittedly impossible to make certain predictions about the future role of nuclear power in our society given the variables of public opinion as well as the political, economic and environmental issues to be considered, nevertheless I believe that in the immediate future humanity will be compelled to revisit the use of nuclear power to sustain itself."
Abstract The paper discusses the radiological health program (RHP) that has been mandated to control the uses of radiation and to protect the public's health and safety and the environment from accidental and avoidable radiation exposure. The paper also examines the response to the Chernobyl accident and the ensuing establishment of the international nuclear safety program (INSP) and highlights the advancements that have been made in the technology of nuclear safety.
From the Paper "Health is a key factor in the scope of any kind of nuclear services or work. Many steps are taken to ensure that each individual is protected as much as possible when involved in dealing with any type of radiation. A program called The Radiological Health Program has been established to set guidelines and regulations that protect the public and keep all involved safe.
"The Radiological Health Program (RHP) has been mandated to control the uses of radiation and to protect the publics' health and safety and the environment from accidental and avoidable radiation exposure. This has been accomplished through the registration of radiation (x-ray) machines, licensing of radioactive materials, inspections, and enforcement actions, to ensure total regulatory compliance."
Abstract The paper discusses the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and at the Three-Mile Island plant to explain why people are so concerned about the impact of a nuclear disaster. The paper then reveals that the responsible and safe use of nuclear power can have tremendous benefits as well; it is relatively inexpensive and low on pollutants. The paper asserts that the use of nuclear energy should therefore be classified according to its use, rather than for any of its inherent characteristics.
From the Paper "When one hears the word "nuclear," the image that springs to mind is one of destruction. After all, the world was first introduced to nuclear energy in the form of the atomic bomb, two of which were used to devastate Japan, ushering in the conclusion of the Pacific part of World War II. Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced such tremendous devastation that it was probably impossible, at that time, for people to envision any responsible use of nuclear energy. These feelings grew during the Cold War; the United States and the Soviet Union both increased their nuclear arsenals, hoping to prevent the other Super Power from using nuclear weapons against them. Other major nations developed their nuclear capabilities as well. This proliferation of weapons helped ensure that humanity would never again know a world without the threat of nuclear war. However, the proliferation of nuclear weapons may also have been substantially responsible for preventing another war on the scale of World War I or World War II. "
Tags:Chernobyl, Three-Mile, Island, pollution, radiation, environment
Abstract This paper describes the fall of the Russian nuclear empire and the long lasting environmental effects which consequently followed. It focuses on the issue of nuclear waste disposal and the health hazards on the Russian population.
From the Paper "After the dissolution of the glory that was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the nation of Russia was faced with a most disturbing nuclear legacy. Issues concerning radioactive nuclear waste (its continuum and disposal) became hot topics for the post Soviet government. The health risks and environmental concerns surrounding radioactivity, having been downplayed during the Cold War period, also became subject to public scrutiny. "
Tags: radioactive, Cold, War, Chernobyl, Russia, cancer, environment, destruction, global
Abstract This paper looks at both sides of the nuclear power debate. It focuses on global warming, political violence and the likelihood of change. The author looks at Chernobyl, and Three Mile lsland and how activists on both sides used it to further their message. It also looks at different facilities, their monitoring processes and ways to decrease the chances of accidents occurring in these plants. It also looks at recent incidents at nuclear facilities in the United States, Japan and Germany that have led to the re-evaluation of those government's nuclear policies. As a final note, the author presents many examples of demonstrations against the use of nuclear power, worldwide, to show how this has become a global issue.
From the Paper "Yet, dissenting voices call attention to the dangers of nuclear power: specifically, the devastating effects of the explosion at Chernobyl of the former Soviet Union in 1986, and the contamination of the plant Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania which happened earlier, in 1979. The Chernobyl explosion sent nuclear fallout for miles immediately surrounding the plant, making much of the land uninhabitable. In addition, radiation that caused severe environmental damage to the surrounding areas has been attributed to rising cancer rates throughout Europe. Though the plant at Three Mile Island did not suffer such a catastrophe due to a containment facility, which prevented radioactive materials from being released into the atmosphere, and therefore avoided severe environmental damage, the plant is now thoroughly contaminated, and it cannot be destroyed. Environmentalists argue that increased safety precautions are not enough; accidents like the aforementioned can, and will, happen again. The sound the call not for more nuclear power plants, but the halt of production of new nuclear power plants, and in some cases, argue that nuclear energy in its entirety should be phased out of the energy equation (Janger et. al., 219)."
