Chernobyl, the pathology of a nuclear accident

The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant took place more than 20 years ago, on April 26th 1986, but its effects are still being felt, and its consequences influence the debate on nuclear power generation. The consequences for those working to contain the accident resembled those after the atomic bomb, 28 died from acute radiation sickness, and a further approximately 20 have died from the consequences of whole body radiation. The consequences for the millions exposed to high levels of fallout were quite different from those after the atomic bomb, and the talk will consider particularly the dramatic rise in thyroid carcinoma; currently estimated as about 4 000 cases. Fortunately only a small proportion has died from the disease. Initial studies concentrated on validating the diagnoses, later studies have shown a link between the molecular and morphologic pathology, the latent period and the aggressiveness of the tumours. These points will be reviewed, together with the link between radiation and thyroid carcinogenesis, and the possible future effects. The thyroid cancers are of particular significance because they represent the largest number of human tumours of one type due to one cause on one date that has ever occurred.