Health effects of the Chernobyl accident: fears, rumours and the truth ☆ ☆ This review is based on a keynote lecture at the 24th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Cancer Registries held on 25–27 June 2002 in Tampere, Finland.

Title: Health effects of the Chernobyl accident: fears, rumours and the truth ☆ ☆ This review is based on a keynote lecture at the 24th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Cancer Registries held on 25–27 June 2002 in Tampere, Finland.
Author: Rahu, Mati

Reference: European Journal of Cancer, 39 (3), p.295-299, Feb 2003

doi: 10.1016/S0959-8049(02)00764-5

Keywords: Chernobyl; Health effects; Thyroid cancer; Epidemiological research ; Disease registries Challenges

Abstract: The impact of the world’s worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 is reviewed within a framework of a triad of fear, rumour and truth. The scope of the accident, Soviet secrecy about it, and the lack of general awareness of, or disregard for, the effects of radiation created a fertile ground for persistent fears and rumours attributing any health problem to Chernobyl. Scientifically correct answers to health issues have been the means to combat disinformation, and to replace interconnected fears, misconceptions and rumours…

URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959804902007645