-Reply

[Joyce Davis <JOYCED@DNFSB.GOV>]

Re the psychosocial effects of Chernobyl:
I had just been reading the July 6 1995 issue of Nucleonics week (I'm
way down on the distribution list) when I saw this posting.  In that
issue was an extensive article under the title "Mental Disorders Said
Spreading Among Chernobyl-Affected People".  It discussed a recent
international conference in Kiev.  Very high levels of mental
distress were seen in EZ residents, inter alia.  It appears that some
of the scientists believe that the radiation directly causes
psychological effects, an idea that, the article says, "western
specialists" are skeptical about.  
J P Davis