Assessing the Risks of Nuclear and Chemical Contamination in the former Soviet Union

Risk assessment has come to assume acute importance in the former Soviet Union since money is so scarce, yet the needs for cleanup are so huge. Other factors contribute to this situation, too: New leaders are still emerging, and governmental structures are still evolving. This creates a particular difficulty for environmentalists who attempt to become involved in the risk assessment process.
New information continues to surface on the fallout from Chernobyl and its consequences for human health. Scientists are still debating the effects of low doses of radiation delivered over a long period of time. This type of contamination is especially prevalent in the Russian North, for example, as a result of the dumping of nuclear submarine reactors into the Kara and Barents Seas.
This book examines the complexities of risk assessment in the FSU at this unique time in history.

Zusammenfassung
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on `Nuclear and Chemical Contamination in the Countries of the Former Soviet Union: Cleanup, Management and Prevention', Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., February 16-22, 1995

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- 2 Science, Scientists, Politics, and Environmental Law.- 3 A Framework for Considering Social, Political, and Economic Factors in Risk Assessments.- 4 Factors Affecting Investment Strategies for the Disposition of Industrial Hazardous Waste.- 5 A Risk-based Approach to Cleanup Problems and Pitfalls.- 6 Assessing Radiation Contamination Risks in Ukraine.- 7 The Perception of Radiation Effects on Humans: The Case of Chernobyl.- 8 NGOs and the Nuclear Navy.- 9 An Appraisal of the Radiation Hazard of Radioactive Waste Discharges in the Kara and Barents Seas.- 10 Conclusions and Recommendations for Assessing Environmental and Health Risks.