Chenobyl and Genetic Effects

["ERIC GOLDIN" <goldinem@songs.sce.com>]

     Regarding all the recent comments on Chernobyl's health effects, 
     this mornings newspaper carried an article about a new study 
     showing genetic damage in the offspring of parents who lived 
     around Chernobyl at the time of the accident.  The article does 
     not cite any journal, scientific organization, University or 
     research center, or even the names of researchers, which gives me 
     cause to wonder.  Supposedly the study will be published tomorrow 
     (10th anniversary to the day).  Reportedly, the "striking 
     finding" is that the damage is expressed in DNA mutations found 
     in sperm and eggs. Curiously, the researchers did not test the 
     sperm and eggs of the parents but "inferred" that since the 
     children were born after the accident, the mutations must have 
     come from the parents' germ cells.  They noted that chemical 
     pollution might contribute, but believed the more likely cause 
     was radiation.  They also noted that such findings have never 
     been found before in other people exposed to radiation.
     
     Byline says "New York Times News Service."  Anyone know more 
     about this study and/or its' credibility?  Interesting since I 
     hadn't heard anything like this from the recent international WHO 
     conference.
     
     Eric Goldin
     Southern California Edison
     goldinem@songs.sce.com