LATE CANCER AND NONCANCER RISKS AMONG CHERNOBYL EMERGENCY WORKERS OF RUSSIA.

This research paper examines the health effects of people around the Chernobyl nuclear plant who suffered acute radiation sickness as a result of the nuclear reactor melt-down in 1968. The accident resulted in one-third of reported acute radiation sickness (ARS) cases mostly among the workers at the plant and the first responders to the accident. The general population was generally spared as was the evacuated population. During the first two months after the accident bone marrow failure was the main reason that exposed patients died. Skin doses exceeded bone marrow doses and 19 deaths were blamed on infection arising from the burns. In all 134 people were diagnosed and of these, 89 died. Long term treatment includes care of burns, skin atrophy and cataracts.