Apr 18 2011 1
MOSCOW – 25 years after the nuclear meltdown in Chernobyl Russia, the world today still does not know the exact death toll and other mysteries surrounding the worst radiation disaster in human history.
Next week will mark the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl’s nuclear disaster. Yet in all that time experts still do not know all the facts that surround the catastrophe. To date no one is certain about the exact number of people who died during the radiation meltdown.
Neither is known how many people have died of cancer as a direct result of radiation poisoning; nor are any figures made available as to how many more victims are still alive stricken with cancer as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear plant meltdown.
Volodymyr Palkin, one of the many individuals who was sent inside the nuclear plant by his government to possibly prevent a meltdown from happening, still spends on average 2 months in the hospital each year for health complication that are directly related to overexposure of radioactive materials.
It is estimated that some 600,000 individuals were sent to Chernobyl after the meltdown to clean up the radioactive mess working under horrific conditions. The men and women put on the front lines in Chernobyl became known as ‘liquidators’.
Palkin now 69, was one of the first liquidators to arrive in Chernobyl and begin the cleanup with little or no protection from radiation. Barely a few weeks into his assignment, Palkin began bleeding from his throat and his intestines. According to medical advisors, Palkin received double the dose of radiation considered safe for humans.
25 years after the nuclear meltdown in Chernobyl, people still suffer from various health concerns. Children are still being screened for thyroid cancer and leukemia victims is on the rise.
“I was in perfect health before they sent me there,” Palkin said. ”Now I can barely walk, my teeth are falling out and I have problems with my thyroid.”
His government pension is barely $200. Most of it he spends on much needed medicines. He receives an additional $35 per month for food and has been given 50 percent discount on electricity, gas and water.
According to GreenPeace, at least 100,000 cancer patients are terminally ill because of direct radiation poisoning; most of them were former liquidators.
The United Nations however stated that only a handful of people died as a direct result of radiation exposure but confirms that more than 6,000 children contracted thyroid cancer after drinking radiation infected milk.
Originally liquidators, most living in the Ukraine, are infuriated with the United Nations’ statement. They contribute their health issues directly to radiation exposure and are angered by the minimal compensation they have received from their government.
Nuclear expert Yury Bandazhevsky expressed that the ‘government has done everything in its power to conceal the truth, all in favor of the mighty nuclear industry’. In 2001 Bandazhevsky was sent to prison for several years for corruption charges. Supporters of the scientist believe however, this was one more attempt by the government to keep the truth hidden.
Now a quarter of a century later, the same mysterious facts are surrounding the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan that began in March 2011 after a 9.0 earthquake followed by a strong Tsunami hit the West-coast regions of Japan.
Experts agree that for several weeks already the radiation levels around the Fukushima plant are too high and pose a real danger to the people and the environment. Japan’s government has already been accused of ‘keeping silent’ and not wanting to reveal the actual facts of their nuclear disaster.
At this point no one knows for certain what aftermath health affects the radiation levels will have on the brave workers in the plant who try desperately to prevent a nuclear meltdown from occurring, as well as the thousands of people who live near the plant.
Also Read:
- Chernobyl, the newest tourist attraction
- Japan on the verge of a nuclear nightmare
| Share This: |
One Response to “Chernobyl Still Shrouded In Mystery”
What's Your Opinion?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
MORE NEWS:
Parakeet Tells Cops Where He Lives
TOKYO – A pet parakeet was returned to its owner Wednesday after the lost bird told police its home address near Tokyo. The male bird had escaped early Sunday morning from its owner’s home in the >> Full story
11 Year Old Destroys 30 MacBooks
MECHANICSBURG – An eleven year old boy placed his school in financial difficulty when he peed on 30 Apple MacBooks. The boy who attends Upper Allen Elementary School in Mechanicsburg, >> Full story
Zookeeper Saves Monkey By Licking Its …
BEIJING – A rare monkey at the Wuhan Zoo in China owes its life to a ‘giving’ zookeeper who went over and above his job description to save the tiny critter from certain death. When Zhang >> Full story
The Cutest Guard Dog Ever
BEIJING – A Golden Retriever in China is becoming an internet sensation after video released online shows the pooch patiently protecting his boss’ bicycle. The pooch sits straight up on the >> Full story
Sexless Man Gets Thrown On The Streets
PORT ST. LUCIE – A woman in Florida is behind bars for scratching and beating her husband because he preferred watching TV over making love to her. The incident took place on Saturday after Stacey >> Full story
Facebook Is Largest Technology Company
Botched Butt Implants Leaves Woman Without Limbs
Three Cups Of Coffee A Day For A Longer Life
New York Woman Goes Shopping In The Nude
US Economy Is Going Backwards Once Again
Mystery Illness Turns Boy Into Skeleton
Robert F. Kennedy JR. Ex Commits Suicide
Texting While Walking Could Get You Fined
Bride Found Dead Still Wearing Wedding Gown
US Army: "Islam Is The Enemy!"
Bangladesh Strike Errupts In Chaos And Violence
The 'Butcher of Srebrenica' Trial Has Begun
Latin Author Carlos Fuentes Has Died
Iraninan Rapper Condemned To Death Penalty
Philippines Judge With Pauper Wages Is Stinking Rich
[...] documents it is revealed that almost a million people died because of the nuclear disaster 25 years ago. Dr. Caldicott refers to this catastrophe as being “the biggest cover-up” in medical [...]