[ RadSafe ] Psychological Impacts of Chernobyl

[Richard Gallego]

Franz, Mr Lowe,


Thank you both for your thoughtful responses to the questions I posed. I
understand that it is the news media's job to sell newspapers, and there is
significant money to be made and notoriety to be gained by sensationalizing
the negative effects of all things nuclear. There is a responsibility on the
part of the people profiting from sensationalizing or misrepresenting
information to the public at large. One could argue that striking fear in
the minds of the general public to the point that they are increasing
suicides, abortions, and alcohol abuse as a result of the misinformation
that has been spread is an immoral and irresponsible act.

This is not even addressing the economic and environmental impact the world
will suffer due to the nuclear power plants that won't be built because of
the irrational fear these people have created.


Rich Gallego

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Leo M. Lowe
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 11:34 AM
To: radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Psychological Impacts of Chernobyl

Hello Rich,

Relative to your question copied below, one measure of the real impacts of
the fear and stress caused by Chernobyl is the number of induced abortions
brought about by perceived potential birth defects.  The number of excess
induced abortions in Europe due to this fear has been estimated in the tens
of thousands, and even higher.  For example, see:

1.  Trichopoulos et al "The victims of Chernobyl in Greece: induced
abortions after the accident" Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987;295;1100.

  2. LB Knudsen "Legally-induced abortions in Denmark after Chernobyl" -
Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy (1991) 45:229-231.

These were real lives lost, just out of fear of what could happen from
"radiation".  Better information given to those exposed post-Chernobyl about
the real risks of radiation could have saved many of these lives.

L. Lowe
____________________________________________________________________________
____
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:09:42 -0700
From: "Richard Gallego" <rich at tgainc.com>
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Busby and Kaku - Two Scientific Alarmists -
To: "'The International Radiation Protection \(Health Physics\)
	MailingList'"	<radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>


Is there a way to quantify the effect of the fear and stress caused by the
fear mongering of articles like these? The Los Angeles Times had an article
this past Sunday on Chernobyl and it appeared that suicide and depression
were not insignificant effects of the accident. One has to wonder what
effect these exaggerated and erroneous proclamations have on the people
living close to the damaged reactors.

Rich Gallego

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