During routine maintenance at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, a power surge caused two explosions and released radioactive particles. Over 30 people died in the explosions and hundreds of thousands were exposed to radiation from the incident. The Soviet Union failed to immediately evacuate nearby areas and did not inform other countries of the disaster for days. The incident heavily impacted the health and lives of those exposed through increased cancer rates and relocation.

1. Chernobyl
Diaries
By Jack Hilferty

2. Reason I Chose
Chernobyl
• News references
• Political debates and arguments over nuclear power

3. Summary of Chernobyl
• Early hours April 26th, 1986.
• Routine maintenance was to be performed on stack 4 of
the Chernobyl nuclear power station.
• Testing the safety electrical system in case of power
outage in order to keep plant running.
• The power fluctuated and caused a power surge and
immediate shutdown.
• Electricity was needed to pump the coolant water for the
station
• Excessive heat led to 2 explosions within stack 4

6. Effects of Incident
• 31 people died from explosions
• 240,000 of first responders exposed to extreme dosages
of radiation.
• 116,000 evacuees exposed to 2 times the normal radiation
in a lifetime.
• 270,000 residents of Strict-Control Zones are still being
exposed to radiation.
• An extra 4,000 cancer deaths are predicted among these
groups
• An extra 5,000 cancer deaths are predicted among
surrounding countries

9. Most Interesting
Discovery
• Soviet Union did not evacuate Pripyat, Ukraine (closest
city) until April 28th.
• Did not tell the other countries until Sweden found high
levels of radiation at their nuclear power station.

10. Human Condition
• Human Condition: Everything that makes us human; such
as feeling, thinking, and free will and knowing the
consequences of our actions.
• The Soviet Union chose to hide this incident from its own
people and many people’s lives were heavily affected by
radiation due to the lack of care the Soviets showed its
people.

11. Conclusion
• Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded and emitted
radioactive particles all over Europe.
• Soviets neglected the safety of its people and the rest of
the world by deciding to hide the incident.
• Many cases of sickness and cancer will result from the
excess radiation.

12. Sources
• http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/n2constr.html
• http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/safety-and-
security/safety-of-plants/chernobyl-accident/
• http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-
Security/Safety-of-Plants/Appendices/Chernobyl-
Accident---Appendix-1--Sequence-of-Events/
• http://history1900s.about.com/od/horribledisasters/p/Cher
nobyl.htm
• http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/chernobyl/backgro
under/en/