Sir, - Your Editorial marking the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster (April 27th) states that "thyroid cancer, genetic changes, congenital birth deformities and toxic contamination of the land are among the most damaging impacts of the catastrophe".
Thyroid cancer and land contamination are certainly impacts, but according to the latest report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR 2000), delivered to the General Assembly last year, which confirms the occurrence of some 1,800 thyroid cancers among exposed children, there is no scientific evidence so far of increases in the incidence of any other health effect. I might add that there is, to my knowledge, no scientific evidence of a connection between exposure to ionising radiation and hereditary effects in mankind - not even among the descendants of the survivors of the atomic bomb explosions in Japan who have been constantly and carefully monitored for the past half-century. - Yours, etc.,
Frank Turvey, Church Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow.