IAEA Urged to Admid to Real Consequences of Chernobyl

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

----------
Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
----------
               ************************
               GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
               ************************
 
>> GREENPEACE URGES IAEA TO ADMIT REAL CONSEQUENCES OF
CHERNOBYL CATASTROPHE
 
VIENNA, 11 April 1996 (GP) The conference "One decade after
Chernobyl: Summing up the Consequences", organised this week
by the United Nation's nuclear promotional agency, the
International Atomic Energy Agency, (IAEA), the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the European Commission, is providing
sufficient evidence to classify Chernobyl as the greatest
humanitarian tragedy ever caused by an industrial accident. 
Instead of acknowledging the substantial evidence and
providing concrete assistance to the affected people, the
nuclear proponents at the conference are trying to downplay
the consequences by stressing that, apart from the dramatic
increases in thyroid cancer, no radiation related effects can

be seen in the three most affected countries.
 
This conclusion was contested on the conference floor by 
members of the Ukrainian delegation, who said that already the
mortality rate in both the affected populations and amongst
the liquidators (clean-up workers) is "significantly higher"
than control groups. Moreover, the Belarus Ministry for
Emergencies and Population Protection from the Chernobyl
Consequences, stated already in its 1995 report that an 
authentic increase of malignant tumours rate is registered in
the population of the heavily contaminated Gomel area.(1)
 
During the International Conference on "The radiological

consequences of the Chernobyl accident", organised last month
in Minsk, by the European Commission, WHO experts reported
that pilot studies in liquidators had shown: "that for
malignant tumours, blood and blood-forming organ diseases,
endocrine system diseases, psychiatric disorders, nervous
systems and sensory organ diseases a statistically significant
linear increase in the relative risk
values was observed dependent on dose. There is also a 
significant positive trend for digestive organ diseases and
infectious and parasitic diseases. The results obtained in the
Russian Federation suggest there will be a continuing increase
in morbidity and mortality among the liquidators".(2)
 
Despite this evidence the conference session on estimated long
term health effects of the Chernobyl accident, stated that
some increase in excess cancers among liquidators could be
expected in the future, but would be "difficult to detect
epidemiological". 
 
In 1991, 5 years after the Chernobyl accident, the IAEA 
concluded: "future increases over the natural incidence of
cancers or hereditary effects would be difficult to discern,
even with large and well designed long term epidemiological
studies"(3).
 
"Today, at the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe,
the nuclear promotional agency continues to try and hide the
consequences of Chernobyl by ignoring clear evidence on the
real health consequences of the disaster", said Diederik
Samsom of Greenpeace.
 
Greenpeace urges the IAEA to take appropriate actions to help
the affected countries in the mitigation of the direct and
indirect consequences of the accident. "Instead of promoting
nuclear power, the IAEA should better assist Central and
Eastern European countries in closing their reactors", said
Eloi Glorieux of Greenpeace.
 
Notes.
 
(1) "The Republic of Belarus: 9 Years After Chernobyl.
Situation, Problems, Action", National Report of the Ministry
for Emergencies and Population Protection from the Chernobyl
NPP Catastrophe Consequences. Minsk, 1995. (p.31)
 
(2) G. Souchkevitch, Radiation Scientist, WHO, Geneva.
Proceedings of the first international conference organised by
the European Commission and the Belarus, Russian and Ukrainian
Ministries on "The radiological consequences of the Chernobyl
accident", Minsk, 18 to 22 March 1996. p.906
 
(3) IAEA, Press release, PR 91/11, 24 May 1991.
 
 
Earlier this Week Greenpeace released a report "Chernobyl Ten
Years After, The Consequences". 
 
For more information, please contact:
 
-Eloi Glorieux in Vienna: ++.43.663.920.81.62
-Diederik Samson in Vienna: ++.31.6.531.06.595
-Antony Froggatt in Kiev: ++.380.44.244.38.34
 
 
 

----------