Radiological Conditions in the Dnieper River Basin

In 1986, in the Dnieper River Basin, the most severe nuclear accident in human history occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine. The accident resulted in the release of large amounts of radionuclides into the environment. In the other areas of Ukraine adjacent to the middle reaches of the Dnieper River, uranium mining and milling facilities have been in operation since 1948 which have left substantial tailings containing naturally occurring radioactive materials. These, together with the accident, resulted in the contamination of substantial areas with radioactive residues, and some associated health effects such as elevated thyroid cancer incidence have been noted. This publication includes the findings and conclusions of an IAEA project team on radioactive contamination in the Dnieper Basin and its radiological consequences, as well as recommendations.