The Chernobyl accident 20 years on: an assessment of the health consequences and the international response

Abstract

Twenty years after the Chernobyl accident the WHO and the International Atomic Energy Authority issued a reassuring statement about the consequences. Our objectives in this study were to evaluate the health impact of the Chernobyl accident, assess the international response to the accident, and consider how to improve responses to future accidents. So far, radiation to the thyroid from radioisotopes of iodine has caused several thousand cases of thyroid cancer but very few deaths; exposed children were most susceptible. The focus on thyroid cancer has diverted attention from possible nonthyroid effects. The international response to the accident was inadequate and uncoordinated, and has been unjustifiably reassuring. Accurate assessment in future health effects is not currently possible in the light of dose uncertainties, current debates over radiation actions, and the lessons from the late consequences of atomic bomb exposure. Because of the uncertainties from and the consequences of the accident, it is essential that investigations of its effects should be broadened and supported for the long term. The United Nations should initiate an independent review of the actions and assignments of the agencies concerned, with recommendations for dealing with future international-scale accidents. These should involve independent scientists and ensure cooperation rather than rivalry.

Energy and Human Health

“…For comparison, the exposed populations had a background occurrence of millions of cancer deaths and much larger natural radiation exposures over the same period. Nevertheless, the chaotic initial response, uncertainties in dose reconstruction, and incomplete health data collection have left many questions unanswered (13,49,86,149,183).…”

Lessons learned from radiation disasters

“…In part, fears about contamination were fueled by local doctors who indiscriminantly attributed many medical problems to radiation exposure or diagnosed patients with radiophobia 17. At the 20th anniversary, the Chernobyl Forum 24 and others 25 concluded that mental health was the biggest public health effect from Chernobyl. Although misconstrued by many to mean that the physical health effects of Chernobyl were inconsequential, the Forum report used this finding to promote the importance of integrated mental and physical health care.…”

Chronic radiation exposure in the Rivne‐Polissia region of Ukraine: Implications for birth defects

“…Contamination following nuclear accidents has raised public and scientific concern about pathways of exposure, the time frame of risk, and the contribution of radionuclides to population rates of developmental disorders and cancer (Cardis, 1996). Unfortunately, most estimates of the health risks of radiation exposure are derived from large, acute, external doses received by adult survivors of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Baverstock and Williams, 2006; Farilie, 2009) or during or immediately after the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor (Ivanov et al, 2001; Mück et al, 2002; Pröhl et al, 2002). These might not be applicable to low‐dose, internal, chronic exposure or to potential health effects across the lifespan (especially in utero) (Fairlie, 2009).…”