The explosion was responsible for the largest uncontrolled radioactive release into the environment ever recorded. Not only did this cause serious social and economic disturbance for the populous in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, but it released radioactive substances into the air for an estimated 10 days. Two radionuclides, iodine-131 and caesium-137, were particularly significant for the radiation dose they delivered to members of the public.

 

Around 200,000 people from all over the Soviet Union were involved in the recovery and clean-up through out 1986 and 1987. Unfortunately, they received high doses of radiation. Later, the number of people working to clean the disaster area grew to over 600,000 but most of these received only low radiation doses. The highest doses were received by about 1000 emergency workers and on-site personnel during the first day of the accident.

 

By 2000, there was about 4000 cases of thyroid cancer that had been diagnosed in exposed children

 

Even there was also a slight increase in other types of cancers, there wasnt enough scientific evidence to attribute it to the Chernobyl disaster, because of the lack of reliable public health information before 1986.

 

Some women where even advised by physicians to undergo abortions on account of radiation exposure.