A Chara, - Frank Turvey's undermining of the health effects of the Chernobyl disaster (May 9th) is typical of the scientific nuclear lobby. It comes as no surprise that he uses a UN report to back up his claims.
Many of the UN departments responsible for such medical research are under the control and influence of the pro-nuclear International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Indeed, the World Health Organisation is bound by legal agreement - of its own making - not to publish health figures relating to nuclear issues without the prior approval of the IAEA. Is anybody surprised that the figures available do not look unkindly on the pronuclear lobby?
Those of us who are not afraid of the truth, we must look to independent scientists and doctors, whose only agenda is to save lives and make the truth known. Their research on the health effects of Chernobyl is startling: since the disaster there has been a 250 per cent increase in congenital birth deformities, a 1,000 per cent increase in suicides in the contaminated zones, a 100 per cent increase in the incidence of cancer and leukemia and a 2,400 per cent increase in thyroid cancer.
The massive increases in incidents of congenital birth deformities bode ill for the future of the gene pools of the peoples affected. Contrary to Mr Turvey's claims, there is scientific evidence of a connection between exposure to ionising radiation and hereditary effects. The eminent Belarussian scientist Dr Yuri I. Bandazhevsky published a report in 2000 with startling observations. He has found, through years of ongoing research, that radio-isotope accumulation affects the functions of the placenta, resulting in problems for foetal development and often leading to increased chances of spontaneous abortion. Iodine 131 has been shown to cross the placenta and accumulate predominantly in the thyroid of the developing foetus.
The greatest danger of radioactive elements is that many of them, such as strontium 90, plutonium, iodine 131 and caesium 137, appear initially to have the same composition as the natural and vital minerals that our bodies need, and thus are accepted by our bodies and distributed throughout our various biological systems. Such truths make shocking and upsetting reading, and it is no surprise that pronuclear scientists will do everything in their power to keep quiet about such dangers. - Is mise,
Eugene Cahill, Press & PR Officer, Chernobyl Children's Project, Camden Place, Cork.