After Chernobyl, complexity surrounds local health problems

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN

Updated 9:00 AM ET, Mon August 19, 2013

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Laborers work on construction of the Soviet Union's Chernobyl nuclear power plant on July 1, 1975. The Chernobyl accident is the world's worst nuclear accident. The disaster sent a cloud of radioactive fallout over hundreds of thousands of square miles of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The radioactive effects of the explosion were about 400 times more potent than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – Laborers work on construction of the Soviet Union's Chernobyl nuclear power plant on July 1, 1975. The Chernobyl accident is the world's worst nuclear accident. The disaster sent a cloud of radioactive fallout over hundreds of thousands of square miles of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The radioactive effects of the explosion were about 400 times more potent than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.
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The station came on-line in 1977, two years before this photo, and contained four reactors, each capable of producing 1,000 megawatts of electrical power.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – The station came on-line in 1977, two years before this photo, and contained four reactors, each capable of producing 1,000 megawatts of electrical power.
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Reactor number four exploded on April 26, 1986, releasing large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – Reactor number four exploded on April 26, 1986, releasing large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
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People are scanned for radioactivity before evacuating the Ukraine in this undated photo.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – People are scanned for radioactivity before evacuating the Ukraine in this undated photo.
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Three days after the explosion, on April 29, 1986, cranes are seen at the power plant. The disaster initially killed 32 people, but according to the United Nations, the explosion and fire that occurred affected, directly or indirectly, 9 million people because of the radioactive materials released into the atmosphere.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – Three days after the explosion, on April 29, 1986, cranes are seen at the power plant. The disaster initially killed 32 people, but according to the United Nations, the explosion and fire that occurred affected, directly or indirectly, 9 million people because of the radioactive materials released into the atmosphere.
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In Finland, milk is tested by authorities for aftereffects of the radiation on April 30, 1986.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – In Finland, milk is tested by authorities for aftereffects of the radiation on April 30, 1986.
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West German Customs officials closely screen goods, cars and people coming in from Eastern Europe on May 5, 1986. Radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear plant threatened to contaminate crops.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – West German Customs officials closely screen goods, cars and people coming in from Eastern Europe on May 5, 1986. Radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear plant threatened to contaminate crops.
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A farmer in Sweden wears anti-atomic clothes as he sifts hay possibly contaminated by the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl in June 1986.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – A farmer in Sweden wears anti-atomic clothes as he sifts hay possibly contaminated by the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl in June 1986.
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Construction crews build a containment wall around the damaged unit four reactor in August 1986.
Photos: After the Chernobyl disaster
After the Chernobyl disaster – Construction crews build a containment wall around the damaged unit four reactor in August 1986.
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