"Fruits of Fear" - Twenty Years After Chornobyl, Lethal Fallout Lingers
By Martin Enserink
Science (Volume 312, pg 1455)
June 9, 2006
PARIS, FRANCE - Pierre Pellerin, former director of Central Service Protection Against Ionizing Radiation (SCPRI) of France now stands accused of "covering up the true extent of the fallout 20 years ago, that followed the Chornobyl disaster". SCPRI asserted at the time, that radiation had not reached dangerous levels anywhere in France - the French government did not adopt precautionary measures, such as banning the consumption of fresh milk as implemented in other countries. The SCPRI stands accused of "making public, the average radiation measurements", which obscured much higher values in local hotspots. A judge has charged Mr. Pellerin with "aggravated deceit" (Read More - Cached)

Genetic Effects and Birth Defects from Radiation Exposure
Hanford Health Information Network
Washington State Department of Health, USA
Fall 2004
People exposed to the release of radioactive materials from Hanford have many questions ... one concern is whether radiation from Hanford caused genetics effects or birth defects."

This well written summary and review provides information about radiation health effects and events in Hanford in the State of Washington. It also discusses exposures and studies of children of Hanford workers and those born in the area of Hanford. The study reports that between 1968 and 1980 there were more neural tube defects than expected. It is also noted that the exposure to the general public of radiation from Hanford operations was estimated at slightly more then one rem for the years 1974 - 1980.

The report underscores that external exposure has different consequences from an internal exposure to radiation by air or foodstuffs. The report concludes that health effects from radiation ... carry some risk of genetic effects and birth defects ... that there are many questions which require additional study ... that answers to these questions can be used to determine the magnitude of the risk for genetics effects and birth defects (Editor's comments: This is even more so in the case of Chornobyl impacted regions) ... (Read More - Cached)

"Look Before You Leap" - Gorbachev (Gorbachov) warns UK on nuclear energy: Remember Chernobyl
By Michael Binyon
Times Online
June 09, 2006
The former Soviet Premier and leader warned Britain and other countries to "Look before you leap" before building more nuclear power stations. "With my experience in Chornobyl ..." the Soviet Union spent tens of billions of roubles to combat the consequences of Chornobyl. Regarding growth in nuclear power, he said that such an approach "lacks vision ... " (Editor's comments: Ukrainian authorities announced the intent of building a series of nuclear power stations in the near future. Other Eastern European countries announced similar plans.) ... (Read More - Cached)