| The Chernobyl Accident 20 Years On: An Assessment of the Health Consequences and the International Response Keith Baverstock1 and Dillwyn Williams2 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland; 2Strangeways Research Laboratory, Worts Causeway, Cambridge, United Kingdom Abstract
Background: The Chernobyl accident in 1986 caused widespread radioactive contamination and enormous concern. Twenty years later, the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Authority issued a generally reassuring statement about the consequences. Accurate assessment of the consequences is important to the current debate on nuclear power. Objectives: Our objectives in this study were to evaluate the health impact of the Chernobyl accident, assess the international response to the accident, and consider how to improve responses to future accidents. Discussion: So far, radiation to the thyroid from radioisotopes of iodine has caused several thousand cases of thyroid cancer but very few deaths ; exposed children were most susceptible. The focus on thyroid cancer has diverted attention from possible nonthyroid effects, such as mini-satellite instability, which is potentially important. The international response to the accident was inadequate and uncoordinated, and has been unjustifiably reassuring. Accurate assessment of Chernobyl's future health effects is not currently possible in the light of dose uncertainties, current debates over radiation actions, and the lessons from the late consequences of atomic bomb exposure. Conclusions: Because of the uncertainties over the dose from and the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, it is essential that investigations of its effects should be broadened and supported for the long term. Because of the problems with the international response to Chernobyl, the United Nations should initiate an independent review of the actions and assignments of the agencies concerned, with recommendations for dealing with future international-scale accidents. These should involve independent scientists and ensure cooperation rather than rivalry. Key words: Chernobyl, disaster response, nuclear accidents, radiation, thyroid cancer, United Nations. Environ Health Perspect 114:1312–1317 (2006) . doi:10.1289/ehp.9113 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 30 May 2006]
Address correspondence to K. Baverstock, Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Telephone: 358-9-7275710. Fax: 358-9-7275710. E-mail: keith.baverstock@uku.fi The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 20 February 2006 ; accepted 30 May 2006.
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