Chernobyl's stressful after-effects

The explosions and fires that wrecked the Chernobyl nuclear reactor brought on what is universally recognized as a catastrophe. Besides the immediate fatalities and human upheaval, which left hundreds of thousands disoriented, anxious about their own health, and bitterly concerned about their children, the accident inflicted incalculable material losses. In economic terms alone (though not in terms of casualties), Chernobyl was the greatest peacetime industrial disaster of all time. Its 10th anniversary was a fitting occasion for stocktaking-for determining what has been and has yet to be learned about the event, and for improving efforts to help the victims. The author discusses the health of those nearest the blast, the thyroid cancer epidemic, research and the puzzling results regarding leukaemia, stress related health effects, and long term and wider health and safety issues.