Consequences of the radiation accident at the Mayak production association in 1957 (the ’Kyshtym Accident ’)
This paper presents an overview of the nuclear accident that occurred at the Mayak Production
Association (PA) in the Russian Federation on 29 September 1957, often referred to as ‘Kyshtym
Accident ’, when 20 MCi (740 PBq) of radionuclides were released by a chemical explosion in a
radioactive waste storage tank. 2 MCi (74 PBq) spread beyond the Mayak PA site to form the East
Urals Radioactive Trace (EURT). The paper describes the accident and gives brief characteristics of
the efficacy of the implemented protective measures that made it possible to considerably reduce
doses to the exposed population. The paper also provides retrospective dosimetry estimates for the
members of the EURT Cohort (EURTC) which comprises approximately 21 400 people. During the first two
years after the accident a decrease in the group average leukocyte (mainly due to neutrophils and
lymphocytes) and thrombocyte count was observed in the population. At later dates an increased
excess relative risk of s...
Source: Journal of Radiological Protection - Category: Physics Authors: A V Akleyev, L Yu Krestinina, M O Degteva and E I Tolstykh Source Type: research