The Psychosocial Aftermath of the Chernobyl Disaster in an Area of Relatively Low Contamination

Abstract

Introduction:There has been relatively little attention paid to the mid- and long-term effects of large-scale disasters, particularly their effects on children and young people. At the present time, the impact of the Chernobyl catastrophe on the daily lives of the affected population may include one of strong psychological stress due to uncertainty about ultimate health outcomes. Persons in the Chernobyl region in specific areas of low contamination may be affected similarly. This investigation assesses radiation concerns and attitudes about health and government information, nine years after the disaster, in a group of adults and adolescents residing in a relatively uncontaminated village in the Chernobyl area.Methods:Questionnaires were administered to 94 adults and 50 adolescents. Items assessed beliefs about extent of radiation exposure, health concerns regarding oneself and family members, past and current pre-occupation about the disaster, and trust in the accuracy of government information about health effects.Results:Considerable uncertainty was demonstrated in both adults and adolescents about the extent of their and their families exposure to radiation. Marked distrust of past and current government information about health effects was evident. A large proportion of subjects reported that they still thought frequently about the Chernobyl accident. They worried about health problems related to radiation exposure whenever they or their family members exhibited physical symptoms or complaints, and they urged family members to go to a medical clinic for evaluation to assess these symptoms.Conclusion:The extent of long-term concerns about the personal and family health effects of the Chernobyl disaster in this population residing in a relatively uncontaminated village is striking: the psychological impact on adolescents is considerable. The stress generated is maintained by the realistic uncertainty about the ultimate health consequences to the overall population as a result of radiation exposure and distrust in government information about contamination levels in this particular village. The level of stress and its effects on physical and mental health may increase over time if there is a rise in morbidity in the area. The continuing health needs of the extremely large population affected by the Chernobyl disaster need to be addressed.

Chernobyl exposure as stressor during pregnancy and hormone levels in adolescent offspring

“…A fear spread across the country with speculation in newspapers about, for example, whether or not milk was safe to drink or rainwater could be used for making food. In general, stress that is generated by exposure to a disaster may be linked to the uncertainty about the ultimate health consequences for the affected population as a result of radiation exposure and distrust of government information about contamination levels 11. The suddenness of the Chernobyl disaster and the very broad media coverage, in addition to the rumours and uncertainty caused by slow risk communication, will most probably have caused stress in the Finnish population, including women who were pregnant at that time.…”

Health Status of Military Women in the Total Force.

“…For example, increases in self-reported physical symptoms and poorer ratings of global health have been reported in clinical populations exposed to traumatic Stressors, including female Vietnam War veterans (Wolfe, Schnurr, Brown & Furey, 1994), and victims of criminal violence (Koss, Koss & Woodruff, 1991), even when physical injuries from the event are taken into account (Kimerling & Calhourn, 1994). Populations exposed to industrial accidents or human-induced disasters have been associated with higher levels of stress and psychological distress than those not so exposed (Davidson, Fleming, & Baum, 1987;Koscheyev, Leon, Gourine, & Gourine, 1997;Rehner, Kolbo, Trump, Smith, & Reis, 2000).…”

Triple Threat Trauma: Evidence-Based Mental Health Response for the 2011 Japan Disaster

“…18 Distrust of government information, perceived radiation exposure and realistic uncertainty about future health effects are well-known risk factors for psychological distress. [19][20][21][22][23][24] Moreover, toxic disasters can lead to stigmatization and discrimination of people and products from contaminated areas. 20,[25][26][27][28] Human-generated disasters marked by perceived loss of control, such as radiation incidents, are particularly likely to produce serious psychological consequences.…”