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World Health Org Health Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident (fwd)
Fwd'd message, sorry Gene, beat you to it...
The ANS student's branch at PSU made a web site on chernobyl (chornobyl),
and we also have put a set of links into one page on chornobyl and the
surrounding area:
http://www.umich.edu/~bbusby/chern.htm
The PSU students page is:
http://idcrl6.psu.edu/rmenuc/users/Chernobyl/
They have a good set of references at their site.
Regards,
Bruce Busby
http://www.umich.edu/~bbusby/
bbusby@umich.edu
----------------------------------------------
Group: I pulled this off the PSU students' Chernobyl page...
Gene Cramer as marc832@primenet.com
WHO Report - Health Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident
Results of the IPHECA pilot projects and related national programmes -
Summary Report, 1995, ISBN 92 4 1561815
This booklet provides a summary of a larger report of the results of a
WHO-sponsored International Program to monitor the Health Effects of the
Chernobyl Accident (IPHECA) and thus represents some of the most
comprehensive and accurate information compiled to date.
IPHECA Results in a Nutshell
* Total radioactivity releases from the reactor was 200 times that of
the combined releases from the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, mainly in the form of iodine-131, cesium-134, and cesium137.
* Of these, the isotope with the greatest health impact is iodine-131
because it accumulates in the thyroid gland. Growing chldren are
particularly susceptible because their thyroids are much more active.
* Population Exposure Data
Average Exposure Rate per Year Population Exposed Action Taken
> 5mSv 135,000 all evacuated
up to 5mSv 270,000 voluntary
relocation
compulsory
monitoring
up to 2 mSv 580,000 special health
monitoring
up to 1mSv 4,000,000 regular health
monitoring
* Non-Radiation Effects Psychological effects due to fear and the
stress of dislocation (evacuees). The evacuation caused financial
hardships, restrictions of diet, uncertainty regarding housing and
employment. The tense situation causes considerable stress which, combined
with the constant fear of health damage from the radioactive fallout, led to
a rising number of health disorders being reported to local outpatient
clinics. The immediate psychological impact was similar to that caused by an
earthquake, fire, or other natural disaster. Finally, the study reports a
large increase in a number of specific diseases involving the endocrine,
nervous, digestive, and genitourinary systems. The study also reports
increases in the incidence of mental retardation, behavioral, and emotional
problems in exposed children. Present evidence does not suggest that these
diseases are radiation-induced, but may have resulted from the considerable
stress experienced.
* Radiation Effects
Immediate Effects - Limited to reactor plant personnel and firefighters.
Two people died during the accident. 444 people were at the site and were
exposed to large amounts of radiation. About 300 were admitted to hospitals
and 134 were diagnosed with acute radiation sickness. 28 of these people
died within 3 months. Of those who recovered, most continued with emotional
or sleep disorders. 30% suffered from various medical disorders that reduced
their ability to work. No clinical symptoms of acute radiation syndrome were
seen in the people evacuated from the 30-km evacuation zone or in residents
of affected areas.
Long-Term Effects -
Significant increases of childhood thyroid cancer have been measured in the
region around the plant, particularly in the Gomel administrative district.
The report includes the following table of data showing the increase in
thyroid cancer rates.
Number of Cases Per Year
Country 1986 87 88 89 1990 91 92 93 94 TOTAL
Belarus 2 4 5 7 29 59 66 79 82 333
Russian Federation 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 6 11 24
Ukraine 8 7 8 11 26 22 47 42 37* 208*
Incidence per Million Children
Country 1986 87 88 89 1990 91 92 93
1994
Belarus 0.9 1.7 2.2 3.0 13 26 28 34
36
Russian Federation 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 0.0 8.0 12
22
Ukraine 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.9 2.2 1.8 3.9
3.5 3.1*
* incomplete number
Usually, the thyroid can be succesfully removed so most of the victimns are
expected to recover. Howver, more than 95% of the cases were reported to be
highly invasive and the cancer spread to other soft tissues. In a few cases,
the children died.
Other thyroid diseases, such as autoimmune thryroiditis, nodular goiter,,
and hypothyroidism have been intensely studied, but show no reliable signs
of increase.
Other Long-Term Effects
o An increase in the occurrence of some blood disorders to
cesium-137 contamination
Cases per Year
1979-1985 1986-1993
Belarus 97 103
Russian Federation 30 36
Ukraine 24 32
The death rate from these disorders showed no increase attributable to
radiation. The morbidity rate in the uncontaminated region increased at the
same rate as that in the contaminated region.
o The incidence of childhood leukemia did not change significantly
after the accident when compared with the period before 1986.
o The incidence of diseases of the oral mucosa and periodontal and
dental tissues was almost identical among residents of the contaminated and
uncontaminated regions in Belarus.
sorry so long, end....