|
Jim,
You ought to write a letter to the editor of New
Scientist pointing out the error in the second sentence of this article:
"He is one of the few working there that night to
have survived."
and asking the editor to publish an Erratum
informing the New Scientist readers of the following facts:
"All symptomatic exposed persons from the site were
placed in hospitals. Of the total of 499 people admitted for observation,
237 of these were initially diagnosed as suffering from acute radiation syndrome
and most of these were hospitalized in the first 24 hours."[1]
"There were 28 fatalities caused by very high doses of radiation to rescue workers and employees of the power station, and 3 deaths in this group due to other reasons. Among 237 members of the reactor staff and emergency workers, initially examined for signs of acute radiation sickness, this diagnosis was confirmed in 134 patients. From among these patients, 11 died up to 1998. The causes of death were as follows: three cases of coronary heart disease, two cases of myelodysplastic syndrome, two cases of liver cirrhosis, and one death each of lung gangrene, lung tuberculosis and fat embolism. One patient, who was classified with Grade II acute radiation sickness (acute radiation dose of 2.2 - 4.1 Gy) died from acute myeloid leukemia."[2] References:
1. "Chernobyl, Ten Years On, Radiological and
Health Impact". OECD/NEA report. Page 56, 1996.
2. Jaworowski Z. "Lessons of Chernobyl".
Newsletter No. 30, Australian Radiation Protection Society, April
2004.
|