- #1
Posty McPostface
- 27
- 7
Hi, I've been trying to de-misinform myself about the Chernobyl disaster in relation to radiation exposure.
I found this study on the WHO website that states,
Main points I would like to bring up:
Source.
Now, it seems that the source of my confusion is due to some apparent shortcomings in my knowledge about how much radiation were people actually exposed to, how much persistent ambient levels of relatively high levels of radiation can an organism cope with, and obviously the hyperbole about the threat of radiation exposure to human beings propagated through the media.
If anyone would care to point me to any appropriate source in regards to the above, thanks.
I found this study on the WHO website that states,
Bennett continued: “This was a very serious accident with major health consequences, especially for thousands of workers exposed in the early days who received very high radiation doses, and for the thousands more stricken with thyroid cancer. By and large, however, we have not found profound negative health impacts to the rest of the population in surrounding areas, nor have we found widespread contamination that would continue to pose a substantial threat to human health, within a few exceptional, restricted areas.”
Main points I would like to bring up:
About 4000 cases of thyroid cancer, mainly in children and adolescents at the time of the accident, have resulted from the accident’s contamination and at least nine children died of thyroid cancer; however the survival rate among such cancer victims, judging from experience in Belarus, has been almost 99%.
Persistent myths and misperceptions about the threat of radiation have resulted in “paralyzing fatalism” among residents of affected areas.
He explains that there have been 4000 cases of thyroid cancer, mainly in children, but that except for nine deaths, all of them have recovered. "Otherwise, the team of international experts found no evidence for any increases in the incidence of leukemia and cancer among affected residents."
The international experts have estimated that radiation could cause up to about 4000 eventual deaths among the higher-exposed Chernobyl populations, i.e., emergency workers from 1986-1987, evacuees and residents of the most contaminated areas. This number contains both the known radiation-induced cancer and leukaemia deaths and a statistical prediction, based on estimates of the radiation doses received by these populations. As about quarter of people die from spontaneous cancer not caused by Chernobyl radiation, the radiation-induced increase of only about 3% will be difficult to observe.
Source.
Now, it seems that the source of my confusion is due to some apparent shortcomings in my knowledge about how much radiation were people actually exposed to, how much persistent ambient levels of relatively high levels of radiation can an organism cope with, and obviously the hyperbole about the threat of radiation exposure to human beings propagated through the media.
If anyone would care to point me to any appropriate source in regards to the above, thanks.