(...more on IPPNW-report)
The report documents the catastrophic dimensions of the reactor accident,
using scientific studies, expert estimates and official data. Some of them
are mentioned here:
- 50,000 to 100,000 liquidators (clean-up workers) died in the years
up to 2006. Between 540,000 and 900,000 liquidators have become invalids;
- Congenital defects found in the children of liquidators and people
from the contaminated areas could affect future generations to an extent
that cannot yet be estimated;
- Infant mortality has risen significantly in several European countries,
including Germany, since Chernobyl. The studies at hand estimated the number
of fatalities amongst infants in Europe to be about 5000;
- In Bavaria alone, between 1000 and 3000 additional birth defects
have been found since Chernobyl. It is feared that in Europe more than
10,000 severe abnormalities could have been radiation induced;
- In Germany, Greece, Scotland and Rumania, there has been a significant
increase in cases of leukaemia;
The report can be found at: www.tschernobyl-folgen.de in German.