Re: "Chernobyl Deaths"

[Kerembaev@cs.com]

Dolf,

You wrote:
>>>>
c). According to the Ukraine's ambassador, the "Chernobyl disaster killed 4
229 people" as reported on

How many Chernobyl deaths?

Taking a geometric average (to give some credence to NEA Committee) yields 1
485 deaths.
There must be a better estimate ?
>>>>

I understand your confusion.
I will tell you that I had not done any epidemiological study and I am NOT a 
specialist in that area. I can tell you only from my personal experience.
In my opinion, those data are so different because of different "group 
interesses".
Some groups are interested if there will be more deaths counted for 
"Chernobyl cause"
Some groups less. It can be figure out who is gaining in each case.

However there were real problems with collecting information.
I know that, before 1991, it was forbidden for doctors to connect any health 
problems to Chernobyl. 
I knew people who used to work over there and was denied in such matter.
Also there were different government departments and agencies which had 
involved in clean up process and there wasn't centralized record collection. 
Special case if person worked  in the Zone for a few month and then left.
As Power Plant employee we had the best Dosimetery and other records system 
but others.....
The only way person could get connected to Chernobyl if she/he had special 
document proven that you were involved in "liquidation" Clean up process 
during 1986-1988. 
There were many problems with that document too because this document 
provided certain privileges and to receive this document person had to go 
thru many bureaucratic barricades. 
So often person who had to have it would not get it and others who did not 
supposed to have got it.... I am who did supposed to get it and got it but it 
took some personal offers on my part to get it.

About the "Chernobyl Deaths"
Personally, I will tell you that in the Power Plant during 1988-1989 every 
one-two weeks we had posted picture of former/present worker who died.... You 
can do calculations you self. 
Were those death officially recorded as a Chernobyl related, I have no idea, 
probably not. I do not know anybody who got cancer. Most of case had other 
causes.........
For us it did not matter what was the cause.

Emil.
kerembaev@cs.com
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