Re: Years Later, Chernobyl Still Casts a Poisonous Shadow

["Zack Clayton" <zack.clayton@epa.state.oh.us>]

I really am skeptical about *some* of this article.  

Trivial case:  I would like some time to see pictures of 14 year old newspaper blowing around in the same town where its been subject to 14 winters, 14 years of spring rain, 14 summers of dry winds, and 14 years of rodents looking for nesting material.  Yet it still blows around.     Man - in the US this would have been compost long ago.  The true achievement of Soviet science must have been development of indestructible newspaper.

There are other parts of the story that are just as incredible.  But, its things like this that make me question when he was there last, and/or his accuracy of description.

This is not to discount the personal tragedy of the 21 year old with thyroid cancer,  that is sad.  My sister-in-law had thyroid cancer about 20 years ago and had to take a pill a day for the rest of her life.  It's not good to be dependent on medicine that way. 

Zack Clayton
Ohio EPA - DERR
email:  zack.clayton@epa.state.oh.us
voice:  614-644-3066
fax:        614-460-8249

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html