Global risk of radioactive fallout after major nuclear reactor accidents

• Published in: Atmospheric chemistry and physics Vol. 12; no. 9; pp. 4245 - 4258
• Main Authors: Lelieveld, J., Kunkel, D., Lawrence, M. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 12.05.2012; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Nuclear accidents; Nuclear energy; Nuclear power plants; Nuclear reactors; Radioactive fallout; Ukraine, Chernobyl; Asia; Germany

Major reactor accidents of nuclear power plants are rare, yet the consequences are catastrophic. But what is meant by "rare"? And what can be learned from the Chernobyl and Fukushima incidents? Here we assess the cumulative, global risk of exposure to radioactivity due to atmospheric dispe...