The effect of nuclear accidents has been a topic of debate practically since the first nuclear reactors were constructed . It has also been a key factor in public concern about nuclear facilities . Some technical measures to reduce the risk of accidents or to minimize the amount of radioactivity released to the environment have been adopted . Despite the use of such measures , human error remains , and " there have been many accidents with varying effects as well near misses and incidents " . Benjamin K. Sovacool has reported that worldwide there have been 99 accidents at nuclear power plants . Fifty-seven accidents have occurred since the Chernobyl disaster , and 57 % ( 56 out of 99 ) of all nuclear-related accidents have occurred in the USA . Serious nuclear power plant accidents include the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster ( 2011 ) , Chernobyl disaster ( 1986 ) , Three Mile Island accident ( 1979 ) , and the SL-1 accident ( 1961 ) . Stuart Arm states , " apart from Chernobyl , no nuclear workers or members of the public have ever died as a result of exposure to radiation due to a commercial nuclear reactor incident . " The International Atomic Energy Agency maintains a website reporting recent accidents
Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
Nuclear power phase-out