Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe and the high risk potential for mental retardation

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Mental Retardation; (United States)

OSTI ID:6650316

Holowinsky, I Z ^[1]

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1. Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (United States)

The nuclear explosion at Chernobyl nuclear reactor on April 26, 1986, continues to have wide political, social, and medical ramifications. Hot debris from the Chernobyl reactor covered an area of more than 5,000 square kilometers with nearly 20 million curies of radionuclides. Eleven regions with a population of nearly 17 million people, of whom 2.5 million were children below the age of 5 years, suffered some degree of radioactive contamination. These children are currently of elementary school age. One of the tragedies of the explosion is that thousands of these children are at high risk for mental retardation and learning disorders.

• OSTI ID: 6650316
• Journal Information: Mental Retardation; (United States), Journal Name: Mental Retardation; (United States) Vol. 31:1; ISSN MERTBX; ISSN 0047-6765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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