Re: Children of Chernobyl

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

Dear Steve: 
     We report on the matter in Environmenal Health Perspectives for 
children and adults immigrating to Israel vol103: 936-941, 1995.  Dr. 
Ella Kordysh is the Senior author.  In general, loss of hair due to 
radiation exposure is reversible.  Referring to the two months after 
exposure, hair loss was reported by Males in 7 adults,(6.5%) in the more 
exposed area  and in 10 (6.1%) in the less exposed area. For females 
the frequency and (Proportions) were 19 (9.5% ) in more exposed and 28 
(9.1) from less exposed.  For male children from the more exposed area 3 
(2,0%) and 1 (0.8%) from less exposed; for girls 7 (4.1%) in the more 
exposed and 7 (4.8) from the less exposed areas.  Since the criteria for 
more and less exposed weere based on 137Cs in soil, we wouldn't expect 
direct effects of such radiation.  More relevant for adults would be 
history of hair loss in relation to exposure among clean-up workers 
(liquidators). This report is in print, Int. J. Occup. and Environ. 
Health. gjohn @BGUMAIL.BGU.AC.IL    
John Goldsmith, M.D., Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel



On Wed, 26 Feb 1997 SHWRL@ccmail.ceco.com wrote:

>      A couple of years ago there was a documentary called "The Children of 
>      Chernobyl", shown on the Discovery Channel.  In the film they focused 
>      on the occurrence of the loss of hair among children from the region.  
>      They indicated that there was no cure and that doctors were not able 
>      to determine the exact cause.
>      
>      If anybody has any additional information or thoughts on this and 
>      would like to share with RADSAFE subscribers please do.
>      
>      Thank you,
>      Steve
>