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Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Health of Liquidators (Clean-up Workers), 20 Years after the Chernobyl Explosion - Abstracts (2005)

AuteurPSR, IPPNW, M.Fernex
Datumnovember 2005
Classificatie 2.34.8.11/29 (TSJERNOBYL - ONGELUK & OMGEVING - MEDISCH/MUTATIES)
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

Health of Liquidators (Clean-up Workers), 20 Years after the Chernobyl Explosion

INTRODUCTION

ON NOVEMBER 12, 2005, NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER THE CHERNOBYL EXPLOSION A SYMPOSIUM UNDER 
THE AUSPICES OF THE MEDICAL FACULTY OF BERN, SWITZERLAND, WAS DEDICATED TO THE HEALTH 
OF LIQUIDATORS (CLEAN-UP WORKERS)

At an International Conference on Chernobyl in Kiev in 2001, rapid health 
deterioration of the clean-up workers - the so called liquidators - was reported. 
At that time, one third of them already were incapacitated. In 1986 in the aftermath 
of the Chernobyl reactor explosion, 800'000 mainly younger adults (mean age 33 
years) were enrolled to decontaminate the heavily contaminated areas in the 30 km 
zone around the exploded reactor. Half of them were military personnel of all 
republics of the Soviet Union, the others were civilian technicians, miners, pilots, 
drivers, all healthy young men and also women. During the first weeks, it was 
mostly external radiation affecting them. Thereafter internal contamination through 
inhalation of Radio-iodine, Caesium, Strontium, Transuranians, various ''hot 
particles'' and gases became prevalent. The dosimetry was problematic to accomplish, 
as the available dosimeters were unable to measure the very high doses.

PSR/IPPNW Switzerland established contacts with independent scientists and 
physicians of the affected countries. We were concerned all along, but became 
especially interested in the long term health problems of liquidators after the 
publication of a press release by the Ukrainian Embassy in Paris, in April2005. This 
document announced that 2'646'106 Ukrainian have to be recognized as victims of 
Chernobyl, one third among them being children. 85% of the citizens living in 
contaminated areas are ill and their health is still deteriorating. Of the registered 
Ukrainian liquidators 94% were ill. The diseases encountered among them need to 
be clarified by unbiased work-up and medical help needs to be provided.

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