RE: Ukraine Orders Chernobyl closed

["Vernig, Peter G." <Peter.Vernig@med.va.gov>]

Group,

While this is one of the less inflated figures I've heard/seen:

"The Ukrainian government has blamed at least 8,000 deaths on the 
disaster, including those killed immediately, workers who died in the 
massive cleanup operation, and people who subsequently died of cancer 
and other radiation-related illnesses." 

Does anyone know if there any basis for the 8000 number?  At the 10 year
anniversary the accounting was under 40 with an estimated 600 excess thyroid
cancers reported and I saw a message recently indicating no deaths in the
thyroid cancers.

Any opinions expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those
of the Denver VA Medical Center, The Department of Veterans Affairs, or the
U.S. Government.

Peter G. Vernig                
Radiation Safety Officer, VA Medical Center, 1055 Clermont St. Denver, CO
80220, ATTN; RSO MS 115
303-399-8020 ext. 2447, peter.vernig@med.va.gov [alternate
vernig.peter@forum.va.gov] Fax 303-393-5026 [8 - 4:30 MT service] Alternate
Fax 303-377-5686

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is found to be
excellent or praiseworthy, let your mind dwell on these things."    Paul

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