Chernobyl (Perspectives on Modern World History)

ISBN 10: 073774555X ISBN 13: 9780737745559

Publisher: Greenhaven Press, 2009

Synopsis

Describes the events of what scientists accept as the worst nuclear disaster in history, with emphasis on the environmental effects on the immediate area and the world.

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Reviews

Grade 7 Up—This volume contains a wealth of relevant information representing many viewpoints of the current discussions surrounding the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which led to an official death toll of 56 people. Each article, skillfully drawn from multinational secondary sources, provides researchers with an admirable base for reports. Chapter one provides the historical background of the disaster, including Chernobyl's chief engineer Grigori Medvedev's piece on the "Soviet Myth of Safety" and Richard Hudson's examination of the disaster's impact on the economic decline of the Soviet Union. Chapter two offers lucid discussions of the "Controversies Surrounding the Chernobyl Disaster." Topics include the extent of radiation exposure, its impact on the surrounding citizens and environment, and the relative dangers of nuclear energy. Notable is Richard Fitzgerald's comparison of the Chernobyl incident and the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. Chapter three is comprised of compelling, firsthand accounts of the workers, liquidators, and members from the community of Pripyat who witnessed and continue to live with the long-term effects of the disaster. Along the way, a number of well-chosen, colorful photos and sidebars on related topics personalize what is a compelling account of the Soviet environmental and human tragedy.—Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL
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Edition details

• Publisher: Greenhaven Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 073774555X
• ISBN 13: 9780737745559
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 1
• Editor: Nelson David