Madam, - I am dismayed that Adi Roche (December 28th) feels that the report of the Chernobyl Forum has caused confusion about the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. First of all, I would like to point out that this was not a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It was jointly prepared and approved by eight international organisations, the governments of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, and by some 100 independent scientific experts and physicians. The section on the health consequences was fully the responsibility of the World Health Organisation. It would be extremely unlikely that all those involved could somehow have constructed a biased viewpoint.
The report of the Chernobyl Forum does indeed try "to find logical and finite answers", as it carefully assesses the role of radiation exposures in the various health and environmental consequences of the accident. Except for the emergency workers at the reactor site on the night of the accident, many of whom received very high radiation doses and suffered acute radiation sickness, and children who had high exposures to radioiodine and subsequently contracted thyroid cancer, all other workers, evacuees, and those who continued to reside in contaminated regions received relatively low radiation doses.
The various counter-measures taken were effective in limiting the radiation exposure to levels comparable to those received from natural background radiation. The radiation doses received by other clean-up workers, evacuees and residents of contaminated territories were far lower than could cause the serious physical and mental disabilities that are unfortunately all too prevalent in both contaminated and uncontaminated areas of the Chernobyl area. The whole region is beset by reduced lifespan, high infant mortality, myriad health problems and diseases. To blame everything on radiation fails to recognise the harm caused by poor lifestyle practices, multiple stresses and other factors, and a general inadequacy in the provision of good health advice and care. Most of the general increase in recorded cancer rates is due to better diagnosis and registration.
An emotional response to the Chernobyl accident, as advocated by Ms Roche, has for too long been used by some organisations and individuals to gain attention that, at the same time, has left the affected population being labelled as victims. The forum advocates eliminating the psychological burden on the population and refocusing efforts toward self-help measures to promote economic development and fundamental strengthening of healthcare systems for all of the population of the Chernobyl region. Providing both the public and key professionals with accurate information about the health and environmental consequences of the disaster should be a high priority.
The report of the Chernobyl Forum is the result of a sound scientific evaluation of the available evidence and so provides a firm basis for moving forward. - Yours, etc,
BURTON G BENNETT, Chairman, Chernobyl Forum, New York, USA.