[Experts noted an increased incidence of cataracts that may or may not interfere with vision. The problems occurred at doses lower than generally though to be a problem.] We need to know what the natural history of these is. Are they going to get worse or stabilize? ... That has big implications for lots of people besides Chernobyl, for example, radiologists and interventional cardiologists who are getting their eyes exposed at work today. |
[Mental health is a critical issue faced by survivor of the disaster.] People don't have timely and accurate information, and this has caused serious troubles, ... Kids who were exposed who are now 20 years old have been called Chernobyl invalids. They have an annual medical exam by 20 doctors so they think for sure something's wrong. |
Clearly, it is the most horrific nuclear accident in history, and there's no getting around that, ... [But] it is not something that is so devastating that it can't be managed, and this report points out is that the situation is manageable. |
Early on there were all sorts of claims being made because people didn't have much accurate information, ... Now, at last, we have the eight UN agencies and the three governments involved coming to a consensus about the effects and what needs to be done. |
Hopefully, if we can get all these pieces to the people and do it right, we can reduce the impact, ... I don't think it will every go away. |
People have developed a paralyzing fatalism because they think they are at much higher risk than they are, so that leads to things like drug and alcohol use, and unprotected sex and unemployment, |
People were evacuated from areas that now have dose levels lower than where I live in New Mexico, |
The monitoring of people with incredibly low does uses huge amounts of resources and does more psychological harm than good, |
To get eight U.N. agencies with completely different missions and three governments to get a consensus on something was astounding, |