Press release
In official reports of the international organizations on
radiation protection the aftermath of the catastrophe of
Chernobyl are played down. It is only conceded, that 134 people
fell ill because of acute radiation disease and 29 of them died
within the first three month after the explosion (26.04.1986).
All of them were members of the working team and firemen in the
nuclear power station. Additionally it is conceded that the
increase of cancer of thyroid gland of the children in Belarus
since 1986 could be caused by exposure to radiation, but that
it is not proved. A detailed analysis of the register about
illness incidences and mortality rates, which is also available
for the time before 1986, shows completely different facts.
A.
Following direct injury of the health of the
Belarusian people caused by the catastrophe of Chernobyl can be
determined:
- Acute radiation sicknesses.
Officially there were no cases of acute radiation sicknesses
among the people. But from secret documents of the Politburo
of the Communistic Party of the Soviet Union it is known,
that thousands of Belarusian citizens have received medical
treatment in hospitals because of symptoms of radiation
sickness.
- Cancer of thyroid gland
Normally this sickness occurs rarely among children, but
until 31.12.1999 628 children fell ill because of it, that
are 614 more than expected. This cancer distinguishes by an
aggressive kind of growing and an early building of
metastasis. Children received high thyroid doses be
consumption of milk contaminated with radioactive iodine.
There is no doubt that the Chernobyl accident is responsible
for significant increase in the incidence Of the thyroid
cancer by children of Belarus. This is also valid for the
increase in the incidence in thyroid cancers by of
adolescents (at the age of 15-18 years) and adults. The
number of adolescents and adults in Belarus, which felt ill
of cancer of thyroid gland since the Chernobyl accident up to
end of 1999, is about 4,000 and will increase to 10,000 to
20,000 people in the future.
- Leukemia
In Byelorussia normally 100 children and 800 adults are
falling ill with leukemia every year. Estimations show that
1987-1998 about 70 children and 460 adults felt ill in
leukemia because of Chernobyl accident. Additionally there
are about 430 cases of other malignant neoplasms of
blood-forming tissues. Official statistics of department of
radiation protection deny these facts.
- Other malignant neoplasms
The analysis of official data on the incidences in cancers
shows that about 25,000 additional cases occurred in Belarus
in 1987-199 as a result of the Chernobyl catastrophe. The
number of people that died in Belarus from radiation cancers
and leukemias up to the end of 1999 can be assessed
approximately as 10,000.
- Congenital malformations
At least 270 additional cases of congenital disorders with
rough morphologic disorders resulted from the Chernobyl
accident can be assessed on the basis of the national
registry of Belarus. To the most frequent deformities belong
polydactyly, extremities reduction and multiple congenital
malformations.
- Increase in general morbidity
Data of the Belarusian register show that people received
quite high doses of radiation (e.g. liquidators, evacuated
and resettled people) suffer more often from common
sicknesses. Especially significant increase occurred in
incidences in cardio-vascular diseases, diseases of the
endocrine system, diseases of blood-forming system and
digestive organs. An increase in the incidence in general
non-cancer diseases as a result of irradiation caused be the
Chernobyl accident is denied by official organizations on
radiation protection.
B.
Economic consequences of the catastrophe in Belarus are
estimated with 300 billion US $. The country is not capable to
recover from all damages of the catastrophe. The resources of
the health system are occupied significantly by treatment of
the catastrophe consequences, so that there are hardly any
capacities for other duties and the standard of medical care
suffers from this.
Summarized the catastrophe of Chernobyl is a very heavy
catastrophe comparable with the worst natural disasters on
Earth. But in those cases the number of victims is determined
faster than after a reactor catastrophe, which consequences are
known only after several years.
Dr. Michail Malko, (E-mail: mvmalko@malkom.belpak.minsk.by)
Leading scientist of the Institute of Physical and Chemical
Radiation Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of
Belarus, Minsk
Dr. Dr. Horst Wohlfarth,
Medical specialist in general and environmental medicine,
Winnigstedt
Wolfenbüttel/Minsk, den 5.12.2000
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