Historical analysis and effects of radiation accidents

With the advent of radiation use, both its beneficial applications and detrimental effects have become evident. Radiation is now extensively employed across the nuclear industry, medicine, and scientific research. However, numerous radiation-related accidents have occurred globally, with long-term adverse consequences observed for human health and the environment. This study provides a historical analysis of radiation accidents reported between 1957 and 2024. Data was collected from national and international academic sources, technical reports, and organizational publications. Supplementary information was retrieved from the IAEA and LAKA archives for undocumented cases. Radiation incidents were categorized and statistically evaluated by year, geographic region, INES level, and occupational environment. Analytical tools used included Google Sheets and Google Looker Studio. A total of 1054 radiation events were identified, of which only 1.3% were classified as accidents. The 23 most significant incidents were analyzed in detail. It was noted that comprehensive INES classification became feasible only after 1990 due to improved data availability. Following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011 (INES Level 7), only event-level cases were documented. Although the majority of radiation incidents (600 cases, 57%) occurred at nuclear power facilities, only 6 of these were classified as accidents. Key contributing factors to accidents included human error, safety system failures, and technical malfunctions. These findings underscore the need for continuous improvement in radiation safety and incident prevention strategies.