A short history of radioactivity-related incidents

In 1954, China had its first accident involving radioactive material. From 1954 to 1987, human error, including poor management and lack of professional expertise, caused 84.64 percent of such accidents, according to Fan Shengen, an expert on radiation prevention with the health ministry. Other factors, including technical faults, accounted for less than 20 percent.

In 1986, China had 70 incidents, but from 1988 to 1998, there were 332 involving 966 people, and 584 sources of radioactivity were lost - 256 of them were not recovered - according to the Case Compilation of China's Radiological Accidents 1988-1998, compiled in 2001 by the ministries of health and public security.

In the 1990s, China had 40 times as many incidents as the United States.