Sir, The attempts of Ms Nuala Ahern, MEP, to find fault with the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) become progressively less convincing. She states (August 2nd) that it "is a very serious matter to deny the reality of radiation effects on the children of Chernobyl who developed thyroid cancer". A reader might assume that this has been denied by the RPII, and also by Dr Peter Waight, the keynote speaker at our recent Chernobyl anniversary conference.
Such an assumption would be entirely unfounded, in respect of both the RPII and Dr Waight. Having all ended the conference Ms Ahern must know that Dr Waight fully reported the occurrence of radiation induced thyroid cancer in children affected by Chernobyl. If she did not remember this, I reminded her of it in my letter (July 18th) to which she is now responding. The impression created by Ms Ahern's comment is potentially so damaging to the reputations of the RPII and of Dr Waight that it is necessary to refute it categorically.
Furthermore, neither the RPII nor Dr Waight has asserted, as Ms Ahern suggests, that "there are no radiation induced increases in cancer, leukaemia, congenital abnormalities, miscarriages or still births in the affected areas What Dr Waight did indicate, and the RPII has no reason to dispute, is that there is as yet no conclusive evidence of radiation induced health effects of the Chernobyl accident, other than thyroid cancer.
Ms Ahern also states that Dr Waight asserted "that all the conditions" (listed above) "are the result of psychological stress". Dr Waight made no such simplistic generalisation. I would hope that this clarification will ensure that. there will be no further misstatements from Ms Ahern of the RPII's position in this matter.
Yours, etc., Chief executive, Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland 3 Clonskeagh Square, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14.
This correspondence is now closed. Ed. I.T