The impact of nuclear accidents has been a topic of debate since the first nuclear reactors were constructed in 1954 , and has been a key factor in public concern about nuclear facilities . Technical measures to reduce the risk of accidents or to minimize the amount of radioactivity released to the environment have been adopted , however human error remains , and " there have been many accidents with varying impacts as well near misses and incidents " . As of 2014 , there have been more than 100 serious nuclear accidents and incidents from the use of nuclear power . Fifty-seven accidents have occurred since the Chernobyl disaster , and about 60 % of all nuclear-related accidents have occurred in the USA . Serious nuclear power plant accidents include the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster ( 2011 ) , the Chernobyl disaster ( 1986 ) , the Three Mile Island accident ( 1979 ) , and the SL-1 accident ( 1961 ) . Nuclear power accidents can involve loss of life and large monetary costs for remediation work
SL-1
SL-1
Nuclear and radiation accidents and incidents