Re: Chernobyl

[John Goldsmith <gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il>]

George:
      With my colleague, Dr. Ella Kordysh as the lead author we published 
in Environmental Health Perspectives, October, 1995 (vol 103, pp936-941) 
an article on 'Health Effects in a casual sample of immigrants to Issrael 
from Areas Contaminated by the Chernobyl Explosion."  Dr., Kordysh and 
two of the other authors are among the immigrants arriving during 1991-3, 
which have enriched out scientific potential.  
      To summarize, no increase in childhood acute leukemia  has 
materialized , and there is some question about whether liquidators (those
sent to repair and rebuild) are having increases in cancer.  The only 
cancer to been reported in excess is children's thyroid cancer.  We found 
increases in hypertension associated with exposure among older 
immigrants, and our colleagues have found post-traumatic stress 
disorder   to be increased.  No general increase in cancer at other sites of 
the general population exposed has so far been documented.
A variety of health complaints are increased.   

  Our findings and those of others will be presented at the 
International Conference on Radiation and Health in Beer Sheva November 
3-7, 1996.  For additional information send me your postal address or
write ORTRA Ltd. POB 50432, Tel Aviv 61500, FAX 972-3-5174433.
John Goldsmith, M.D., ,gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il.