The Greenpeace report involved work by 52 respected scientists and includes information never before published in English. It also looks into the ongoing health impacts of Chernobyl and concludes that radiation from the disaster has had a devastating effect on survivors; damaging immune and endocrine systems, leading to accelerated ageing, cardiovascular and blood illnesses, psychological illnesses, chromosomal aberrations and an increase in foetal deformations.

The Chernobyl Forum also claimed that, apart from thyroid cancer, there were very few serious health effects. But Linda Walker of Chernobyl Children's Project says regular visitors to Belarus cannot fail to be aware of the many health problems which seem to be more acute in the contaminated parts of the country. Babies with disabilities or genetic disorders, or who develop serious diseases in their early months; blood disorders in children which are normally only seen in the elderly; heart disease and respiratory problems in children are widespread; osteoporosis is seen in small children; children who do not grow, still looking like toddlers into their teens; babies born with missing or twisted limbs; and breast cancer among young women is a major problem. But little or no research is being conducted into these issues. The Chernobyl Children’s Project is calling for unbiased, independently funded research. [4]

[1] International Agency for Research on Cancer Press Release 20th April 2006
[2] Greenpeace International 18th April 2006
The Chernobyl Catastrophe: consequences on human health, Greenpeace International
BBC 18th April 2006
[3] European Greens Press Release 6th April 2006
New Scientist 6th April 2006
[4] Linda Walker writing in the Guardian 31st March 2006
Linda Walker letter to The Independent 12th April 2006
Remember Chernobyl website