Chernobyl 1996: New Materials concerning Acute Radiation Syndrome
around Chernobyl
Vladimir M. LUPANDIN
Institute of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Parkovkaya 33-24, Moscow 105215, Russia
We have already reported that in March and June of
1992 we managed to discover 82 medical histories in
the Central district hospital (CRH) of the Khoiniki
district of the Gomel region (town Khoiniki) with thedescription of radiation injury, which emerged in thefirst days and weeks after the accident at the 4th power
unit of the Chernobyl NPP [1]. We have found thesymptoms of acute radiation disease in eight cases. A
brief account of this fact in the press has caused
interest in the Republic of Belarus, the USA and Japan[2, 3].
However, a more elaborate analysis of the data
found in the medical documents, compiled by the staffof the CRH in May-June 1986 was hampered by theabsence of reliable (not misrepresented) informationon the radiation situation in the Khoiniki district in thefirst days after the accident when, as one might expect,radiation dose could be so strong enough to induceradiation syndrome.
In 1996 we have succeeded in getting reliable dataon the radiation situation in the Khoiniki district.
These were data of the Civil Defence Headquarters of
the Khoiniki district, remaining in private notes of the
Chief of the Civil Defence Headquarters (all data havebeen submitted to the republican archives in Minsk
immediately after the accident).
According to the existing practice, all data on theradiation situation in the first days after the accident
have
been
concealed
by
the
USSR
Hydro-meteorological Committee, although these data
were of the greatest interest in order to assess the scaleof the accident. The same happened to the data of the
Civil Defence Headquarters of the Khoiniki district:they were concealed by the Belorussian
Hydro-meteorological Committee.
However, as we have compared the data onradioactive contamination presented by the Civil
Defence Headquarters with the data of the Medical andEpidemiological Station of the Khoiniki district, wefound that they coincided to a great extent.
The usual argument to reject the data acquired on
local areas has been that measurements wereconducted by semiskilled staffs using improperly
calibrated devices. However, in our case this argument
has no power.
The Chief of the Civil Defence Headquarters of the
Khoiniki district - Kayuda Alexander Ivanovitch had

previously worked as a nuclear submarine mechanicalengineer. He had been serving in the submarine fleet
until 1983. Besides technical maintenance of thenuclear reactor, he was responsible for measurementsin the reactor compartment. He has been holding thepost of the Civil Defence Headquarters Chief since1983. Even before the accident, he had been
conducting measurements of the radiation backgroundin the 10-20 km distance from the Chernobyl NPP bymeans of the DP-5V dosimeter. According to his data
in June 1985, exposure dose rate on the ground near
the village Radin was 240-250 µR/h (the same
dosimeter showed only 40 µR/h in the reactor
compartment of a nuclear submarine). The enhanced
radiation background in the vicinity of the village
Radin could not be explained by reasons other than(radioactive) discharge from the Chernobyl NPP.
According to the data of the Civil Defence
Headquarters, systematic dosimetric studies were notconducted on the 26th and 27th of April in the territoryof the Khoiniki district by any civil or militaryorganisation. The Civil Defence Headquarters started
to conduct the first dosimetric studies on the 28th ofApril at 8 a.m. Below are given some of the results ofthe ground radiation measurements conducted by the
Civil Defence Headquarters:
Town of Khoiniki — 8 mR/h;
Villages: Strelitschevo — 14 mR/h,
Dron'ki — 30 mR/h,
Orevitschi — 89 mR/h,
Borschevka — 120 mR/h,Radin — 160 mR/h,
Ulasy — 300 mR/h,
Tschemkov — 330 mR/h,
Masany — 500 mR/h.
According to the instruction on population
radiation protection existing at that moment, the majorpart of the Khoiniki district population had to be
evacuated because many residents of the district werelikely to suffer the whole-body doses of hundreds ofrem — such was the conclusion of the Civil Defence
Headquarters, announced at the district meeting in theevening of the 28th of April.
The conclusion about the necessity of immediateevacuation of the district residents was supported by
the Gomel region Civil Defence Headquarters Chief,
D.F. Zhukovskiy (mechanical engineer of special
power plants) and nuclear physicists from the Obninsk
NPP who were also present at this meeting. The
district administration rejected the demand of theThis report was published in Gijutsu-to-Ningen, No.284,
pp.59-69, Mar 1998 (in Japanese).

108

district and region Civil Defence Headquarters.
However, the evacuation of children and pregnant
women from the 30km zone began on the 1st of May,and on the 5th of May the evacuation of the rest of the
population. The number of evacuated residents totalled
to 5,200 persons. All of them underwent medical
examination at the CRH which has been reorganised
into a Military Field Hospital (MFH) on the 5th of May.
From this day military radiologists from Severomorsk,
Severodvinsk and the Far East started to work at the
CRH. The official symptoms for stationary
examination at the MFH were as follows:• The exposure dose rate of the thyroid gland is morethan 1,000 µR/h.
• Contamination of clothing, footwear, skin,underwear is more than 0.1 mR/h.
• Accumulation of radionuclides in internal organs(thyroid gland, liver, kidneys, genitals) from 800 to
1,000 µCi.
Approximately 12 thousand residents of the
Khoiniki district came within these factors: all of them
have undergone medical examination in the MilitaryField Hospital (there have been 32 thousand residents
in the Khoiniki district before the accident).
Medical histories (approximately 12 thousand)have been stolen from the hospital archive in
November 1990. After the loot, the records of thearchives have not been kept in order. At the time westarted to search for the remaining medical histories,
medical files were found to be huddled in a stack in theattic of an ancillary building. As it is alreadymentioned, we have found 82 medical histories ofpatients from contaminated territories, who entered thehospital within the period from the 1st of May and till
the middle of June 1986. These 82 histories are
considered to be only a small part of the total, most ofwhich were stolen from the archive in 1990.
22 medical histories of patients from the Bragin
district have been excluded from the present report.

4. Child from radioactive zone.
5. Hospitalisation for medical examination due to stayin the zone of increased radiation and changes inblood tests (leukocytes 2,500 mln/l).
6. Complaints of nausea, vomiting, salivation.
Exposure dose rate of thyroid gland is higher than
3,000 µR/h.
7. Radioactive contamination. Exposition dose rate of
the thyroid gland is higher than 3,000 µR/h.
8. Leukocytopenia: leukocytes — 2,300 mln/l.
Headache.
9. Directed by the primary medical service withradioactive contamination diagnosis. Dosimetricdata of the thyroid gland: more than 3 mR/h.
Leukocytes — 2,900 mln/l.
10. At the time of the accident the patient stayed within
300 meters from the Chernobyl NPP.
Leukocytopenia: leukocytes — 3,200 mln/l.
11. Radioactive contamination: liver 5-10 mR/h.
Thyroid gland — 1.5 mR/h.
12. Radiation burn of face and hands.
13. Radiation injury, nasal bleeding.
Apart from the reasons coming to the MFH,
complaints of the patients about their health state arealso of interest. The following complex of symptoms
was found most frequently: headache, strong
weakness, nausea — more than 30% of the total
number of patients. These symptoms are typical of
so-called vegeto-vascular dystonia (VVD).
Second was the complex of symptoms
characterised by vomiting, stomach ache, dizziness,poor appetite, pains in the heart area, dry and bitter
mouth — up to 10%. Neurocirculatory dystonia (VVD
+ pains in the heart area) — 13%.
Below is given the list of patients' complaints foundin the medical histories:
Headache — 33 cases,
strong weakness — 29,
nausea — 20,
dizziness — 10,
pains in the heart area — 8,
vomiting — 7,
poor appetite — 7,
dry and bitter mouth — 7,
salivation — 3,
arthralgia pain — 3,
scratchy feeling in the throat — 3,drowsiness — 2,
diarrhoea — 2,
disturbed sleep — 2,
pains in the right subcostal area (liver) — 2.
The following complaints have been registeredonly once: increased temperature, defecation andurination retention, retardation, nasal bleeding,vascular bleeding, ear noise, skin itch, sweating, dry
cough.
The patients were coming from the following
residential areas: Towns: Khoiniki, Pripyat. Villages:
Borschevka,
Orevitschi,
Ulasy,
Pogonnaya,
Molotschki, Kazhushki, Dron'ki, Chvoschevka,

The Military Field Hospital (MFH)
60 medical histories from the hospital archives
have been used for a retrospective analysis. All entries
in these histories are very brief, reflecting a factaccounted for by both the considerable amount ofwork and the inspective reasons. The diagnosis at thedischarge from the MFH had been subject to especiallystrict inspection: we have not found a single
mentioning of radiation injury.
However, the reasons coming to the hospital for
medical examination due to stay in the zone ofradioactive contamination were not subject toinspection. The contents of these reasons remaining intheir medical histories are of our interest.
Reasons coming to the MFH are as follows:
1. Radiation sickness Grade II.
2. The dose rate of thyroid grand — 10-16 mR/h.
3. Complaints of general weakness, headache, stomach
aches, nausea, vomiting, dropsy of lower
extremities.

109

Tschemkov, Veliki Bor, Vysokaya, Budovnik,
Novoselki, Lomatchi, Maleshev, Novopokrovka,
Klivy,
Amel'kovstchina,
Erapov,Pudakov,
Tul'govjtchi, Veletin, Tchechi, Dvorishtche, Rudnoe.
As a result of a retrospective analysis of 60 medical
histories, the cases have been divided into threegroups:1. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS).
2. Radiation reactions.
3. High exposure dose rate of the thyroid gland
without clear clinical symptoms.

The data of the Khoiniki district Civil Defence
Headquarters: the exposure dose rate on the ground in
the village Borschevka on the 28th of April was 120
mR/h. Air measurements on the 20th of May; 300
meters above the village Borschevka — 28 mR/h; on
the ground — 50 mR/h.
The data of the Khoiniki district Medical andEpidemiological Station: on the 29th of April 1986 theexposure dose rate on the ground in the village
Borschevka was 60-100 mR/h, Sr-90 — 13.4 Ci/km2.
The clinical characteristics of the disease
corresponds to Grade III ARS: the irradiation dose,apparently exceeds 300 rem. The patient had received
the main dose of ionising irradiation within two days
— 26th and 27th of April, which testifies to the fact thatduring these two days there was a very high radiationlevel in the area of the village Borschevka. As theradiation level on the ground on the 28th of April has
been 120 mR/h, one can draw a conclusion that thehigh level of ionising irradiation was contributed byshort-lived radionuclides.
The severity of radiation injury was determined not
only by high irradiation level, but also by the fact thatthe patient was getting sun-tanned (there weather washot). One can presume that there were many people
taking vacation on the bank of the river Pripyat during
the weekend (26th and 27th of April). We can state thatduring these two days high irradiation doses could bereceived by the people far outside the Khoiniki district,
especially by those who were getting sun-tanned, took
outer clothes off due to hot weather, spent much timein the open air.
2. Medical history N2505/467. Man, resident of thevillage Borschevka, milker, age: 47, works in thecollective farm "Pervoe Maya" (The First of May).
Admitted to the CRH on the 2nd of May, 2:45. Directedby the head physician of the Pogonyansk rural
hospital. Diagnosis: Grade II ARS.
By admission the patient complained of nausea,
vomiting, weakness, abdominal pains. He said that hehad fallen ill on the 1st of May, when pains inepigastrium area, nausea and vomiting came.
Medical examination on the 2nd of May, 16:30.
Vomiting did not recurred. Health state improved.
Abdomen painful.
Blood analysis: leukocytes — 4,700 mln/l. The
patient left the hospital on the 4th of May without
official permission.
3. Medical history N7539/464. Man, age: 82, residentof the village Borschevka. Admitted to the CRH on the
3rd of May 1986. Complaints of general weakness,headache, abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting. Dropsyof lower extremities was found by evening. The patient
left the hospital on the 4th of May.
4. Medical history N2520/476. Woman, age: 48.
Admitted to hospital on the 3rd of May from the village
Molotchki.
First symptoms of an ailment became apparent on
the 28th of April 1986: nausea, vomiting, strong
general weakness, diarrhoea (up to 4 times a day). The

Radiation Syndrome
1. Krychenko Nikolay Alekseyvitch (fictitious),man, age: 20, worker, from the village Borschevka.
Time of admission to the CRH: the 1st of May,
2:00. Complaints by admission: recurrent vomiting,general weakness, abdominal pains (in epigastrium
area, mainly left), headache, bitter mouth.
History: the patient came to the village Borschevka
to his relatives, intending to get sun-tanned and fishingin the river Pripyat. He spent two days — 26th and 27thof April on the bank of the river Pripyat. On the 28th ofApril vomiting came (up to six times a day), nausea,
abdominal pains, the temperature rose (to 39). Stool
retention was observed. The patient took antidote
according to the direction of a physician.
Results of medical examination: retardation,
flaccid. The tongue was coated with white fur. Stool
retention for three days. Temperature — 36.6.
Radiation gamma background (!): clothes werestrongly contaminated. Gamma dose rate from the sideof the liver — 1.5 mR/h.
Medical examination on the 1st of May at 5:30 a.m.
The patient complained of general weakness, nausea,
vomiting (once since admission to hospital), retentionof urination and constipation. Health state of thepatient in the afternoon of the 1st of May: confused
speech, complaints of headache, dizziness, recurrent
vomiting. Blood analysis: leukocytes — 3,600 mln/l,trombocytes — 260,000/ml. Analysis of urine: protein— 4.65 g/l.
The patient was transferred to the Gomel regional
hospital on the 3rd of May.
Additional data. On the 29th of April he was
examined by the Medical Service Chief of the Civil
Defence Headquarters, V.I.Kobylko: confused speech,complains of headache, weakness, recurrent vomiting.
The patient conveyed that he had come to get
sun-tanned and fishing in the river Pripyat on the 26thand 27th of April. He was subject to a second medical
examination at the CRH on the 1st of May: the patient
was still in an emergency state: retardation, confused
speech. Diagnosis: Grade II-III ARS.
The village Borschevka, where the patient hadcome, is situated at 17.5 km to the north of theChernobyl NPP on the right bank of the river Pripyat.
Number of inhabitants on the 1st of January 1986 —311 persons.
Radiation measurements in the village Borschevka.

110patient consulted a doctor on the 30th of April.
Medical examination on the 3rd of May: the patientcomplained of pains in epigastrium area, nausea,
vomiting, salivation. 7th of May: the exposure dose rateof thyroid — 3,000 µR/h. Blood analysis from the 9thof May: leukocytes — 3,500 mln/l. Discharged from
hospital on the 13th of May 1986.
Retrospective analysis:
Grade I-II ARS — might be substantiated bytypical clinical symptoms and stay in radiation
contaminated area, the exposure dose rate of thyroid
and leukocytopenia. The intestinal upsets draw theattention in the health state of the patient.
Clinical symptoms of ARS of the patient became
apparent on the 28th of April, which testifies to the factthat on the 26th and 27th of April she received a dose
higher than 100 rem.
The patient resided in the village Molotchki (20 km
from the Chernobyl NPP, number of inhabitants —124). According to the data of the Civil Defence
Headquarters, the exposure dose rate on the ground in
the village Molotchki on the 28th of April was 280
mR/h (two times higher than in the village
Borschevka). According to the data of the Medical andEpidemiological Station, the exposure dose rate on the
29th of April was 130-190 mR/h, on the 30th of April —60-70 mR/h, Sr-90 — 25 Ci/km2.
5. Man, age: 35, resident of the village Dron'ki, works
in the state farm "Orevitschi".
Admitted to the CRH on the 3rd of May 1986,
20.30. Complaints: weakness, dizziness, nausea,
vomiting. The patient had fallen ill on the 28th of April,when the symptoms (weakness, nausea, vomiting)appeared for the first time. These symptoms remained
for a week (from the 28th of April to 2nd of May). The
health state worsened on the 3rd of May.
Data of medical examination on the 3rd of May: thepatient shows slight retardation, he said that he hadreceived a dose of 60 rad.
Discharged from hospital on the 6th of May. The
village Dron'ki (35 km from the Chernobyl NPP, 232
residents). According to the data of the Civil Defence
Headquarters, the exposure dose rate on the 28th ofApril was 30 mR/h, and according to the data of theMedical and Epidemiological Station on the same day— 26-28 mR/h. Sr-90 — 2.7 Ci/km2.
6. Medical history N8977/438. Man, age: 55, residentof the village Amel'kovstchina. Admitted to hospitalon the 10th of May. The patient had fallen ill on the 4thof May, when general weakness, abdominal pains,diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting appeared.
Patient complaints: diarrhoea, abdominal pains,
weakness. Blood analysis: leukocytes — 3,200 mln/l.
7. Medical history N8302/602. Woman, age: 57,
village Klivy (70 km from the Chernobyl NPP).
Admitted to hospital on the 11th of June due to stay inradiation contaminated zone. She had been ill for 1
month. Complaints: pains in the right subcostal area,
nausea, vomiting, dizziness, general weakness,
abdominal pains, pains in the back, neck, feet.

20th of May: vomiting once. Blood analysis fromthe 10th of June: leukocytes — 2500 mln/l,trombocytes — 260,000/ml, erythrocytes — 3.63
mln/ml. Arterial pressure 210/115.
8. Medical history 7588. Infant, age: 2 years and 7
months, village Pogonnoye. Admitted to the hospitalon the 4th of May. Diagnosis: aphthous stomatitis, achild from the zone of increased radiation.
Complaints: refuses to take food, salivation. Objective
signs: dropsy lips, profuse aphthous ulcers on themucosa of mouth, lips and cheeks. Marked salivation,
temperature 37.8.
6th of May: stomatitis remained. The patient wastransferred to the regional children hospital.
The village Pogonnoye (1,503 inhabitants) lies at
27 km from the Chernobyl NPP (the exposure dose
rate on the 28th of April, according to the data of theMedical and Epidemiological Station was 30-35 mR/h,
Sr-90 contamination density — 10 Ci/km2).
We have attributed this case to radiation syndrome,
although vomiting is not apparent with the patient. The
aphthous stomatitis can be explained as beta-injury.
The refusal to take food, increased temperature andprofuse salivation indicate the severity of the healthstate.
Let us draw some conclusions. The patients stayedin the radiation contaminated areas and received a
relatively high dose of ionising radiation. Similar
clinical symptoms appeared in all the patients, which
are characteristic of ARS. The patient Krivenok takes acentral place in our list: his case may be called astandard ARS case for the 30 km zone.

Radiation Reactions
The following syndromes have been established:
1. Hemopathology — cytopenia, leukocytopenia.
2. Astheno-vegetative syndrome.
3. Neurocirculatory dystonia.
4. Syndrome of laryngitis.
5. Beta-injury of the mucosa and skin.
6. High gamma radiation of the thyroid gland
Leukocytopenia
9. Medical history N7784. Woman, age: 65, residentof the village Amel'kovstchina, admitted to hospital on
the 12th of May. Diagnosis: radioactive contamination.
Measurement on the 15th of May: clothes — 500 µR/h.
Thyroid gland — 1,200 µR/h. Blood analysis:
leukocytes — 2,200 mln/l. Discharged from hospitalon the 20th of May 1986.
10. Medical history N8011/554. Man, age: 21, townof Khoiniki. Admitted to hospital on the 23rd of May
with the diagnosis: "Hospitalised for medical
examination due to stay in increased radiation zone,
with changes in blood analyses."
Blood analysis: leukocytes — 2,500 mln/l.
Radiation of the thyroid gland — 130 µR/h. Treatment
according to the scheme used by Grade I ARS:
gluconat calcium, citric acid, multivitamins,
hypotisiad, mineral water, isophenin, cholagogue
medicines.
111

Discharged from hospital on the 2nd of June.
11. Medical history N8318/604. Man, age: 41, townof Khoiniki, driver. Admitted to hospital on the 13th ofMay. Radiation from the side of the liver — 80 µR/h,of the thyroid gland — 35 µR/h. Blood analysis:
leukocytes — 2300 mln/l, trombocytes — 144,000/ml.
Complaints: headache.
12. Medical history N7641/318. Woman, age:33,
resident of the village Pogonnoye, from the zone ofcontamination. Complaints: moderate headache, dry
and bitter in mouth on May 6. Blood analysis:
leukocytes - 2,200 mln/l on May 7. The exposure dose
rate of thyroid -1,400 µR/h.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia
13. Medical history N7868/533. Man, age: 64,
resident of the village Ulasy, worker on the collective
farm "Novaya Zhizn'" ("New Life"), resettled on the
5th of May to the village Strelitschevo.
Admitted to the CRH on the 20th of May 1986.
Complaints by admission: general weakness,sleepiness, discomfort, pains in the loin.
Directed by the medical service station with thediagnosis: radioactive contamination. Hospitalised
from increased radiation area. Dosimetric examinationof the thyroid gland: 1.9-2.0 mR/h. Gamma-radiation
intensity on the thyroid gland by admission to the CRH
higher than 2 mR/h. Blood analysis: leukocytes —2,900 mln/l. Discharged from hospital on the 5th ofJune 1986. From the 26th of April till the 5th of May,
the patient stayed in the village Ulasy, where theexposure dose rate on the 28th of April has been 300
mR/h. From the 5th of May to the 15th of May thepatient stayed in the village Strelitschevo.
14. Medical history N7805/496/539. Woman, age:
63, resident of the village Novoselki. Admitted to the
CRH on the 13th of May. Diagnosis: radioactive
contamination. Exposition dose rate: liver — 1,000µR/h, thyroid gland — 3,000 µR/h. During three days
(10-12th of May) the patient stayed in the open air in a
65 km distance from the Chernobyl NPP.
Complaints: headache, nausea, poor appetite,
general weakness, discomfort, sleepiness. Bloodanalysis from the 19th of May: leukocytes — 3,200
mln/l. Discharged from hospital on the 27th of May.
15. Medical history N7795/491. Woman, age: 59,
village Novoselki. Admitted to the CRH on the 13th ofMay. Diagnosis: VVD. The exposure dose rate on
clothes on the 14th of May — 700 µR/h. Thyroid gland— 2,000 µR/h. Complaints: headache, nausea,
scratchy feeling in the throat. The patient stayed within
60 kilometres from the Chernobyl NPP and spent
plenty of time in the open air. Discharged from
hospital on the 21st of May.
16. Medical history 7818/495. Woman, age: 49,
village Novoselki. Admitted to hospital on the 13th ofMay. Directed to hospital with diagnosis: radioactive
contamination. 14th of May: the exposure dose rate on
clothes — 900 µR/h. Thyroid gland — 3,000 µR/h.
Symptoms of an ailment have become apparent on the10th of May.
Before this, the patient stayed within 65 kilometresfrom the Chernobyl NPP. Complaints: weakness,
nausea, poor appetite, headache. Discharged from
hospital on the 21st of May.
17. Medical history N7815/502. Woman, age: 57,
village Novoselki. Admitted on the 15th of May. The
exposure dose rate on clothes — 700 µR/h. Thyroid
gland — 2,600 µR/h. Blood analysis on the 19th of
May: leukocytes — 2,900 mln/l.
The patient stayed within 65 kilometres from the
Chernobyl NPP in the open air. The patient drank milk
from her own cow. Complaints: headache, weakness,
discomfort, pains in the heart area.
Beta-dermatitis, radioactive burns
18. Medical history N7587/1060. Man, age: 35,
resident of the village Veliki Bor. Admitted to the
CRH on the 4th of May 1986. The patient was broughtfrom a radiation contamination area with thediagnosis: radioactive burn of the face, hands.
Exposure dose rate of the body surface — 300 µR/h.
Thyroid gland — 700 µR/h. Complains of discomfort,
headache.
19. Medical history N7655/461. Woman, age: 43,
milker, resident of the village Vysokaya. Admitted to
the CRH on the 6th of May, 23:00. Directed with thediagnosis: radiation injury, nasal bleeding. On the
1st-5th of May the patient had worked on cow-milking
in the Tchemkov-Ulasy area. Headache became
apparent on the 5th of May. Objective signs: skinintegument of face, neck, hands have the colour ofdark sun-tan, reddened cheeks. Blood analysis:
leukocytes — 3,000 mln/l. The patient left the hospitalon the 8th of May without official permission.
20. Medical history N7794/489/540. Woman, age:
64, resident of the village Novoselki. Admitted on the
13th of May. Directed with the diagnosis: radioactive
contamination. The exposure dose rate on clothes —1,700 µR/h. Thyroid gland — higher than 3,000 µR/h.
Complaints: headache, nausea, pains in epigastrium
area. The patient said that she lived within 60
kilometres from the Chernobyl NPP. The patient
worked in the garden. Exposed body parts —sun-tanned. Blood analysis from the 26th of May:
leukocytes — 2,800 mln/l. Discharged on the 29th ofMay.
Neurocirculatory dystonia
21. Medical history N8013. Woman, age: 21, town of
Khoiniki. She was working at the Bragin Medical andEpidemiological Station. Admitted to the CRH on the
23rd of May. The symptoms of an ailment had started
to become apparent a week before admission to the
CRH. The patient repeatedly worked in the areas ofincreased radiation.
Complaints: sharp pain in the parietal area, nausea,
weakness, arthralgia, pains in the heart area, headache,disturbed sleep, anorexia. Discharged on the 2nd ofJuly.
22. Medical history N8060/550. Woman, age: 49,

112

town of Khoiniki. Admitted to the CRH on the 23rd of
May. The symptoms of ailment first became apparent
on the 3rd of May: weakness, nausea, subfebriletemperature at night. The health state had worsened on
the 20th of May, when the temperature rose to 39.
Complaints:
headache,strongweakness,
discomfort, poor appetite, nausea, pains in the lumbar
area, arthralgia, dry mouth.
23. Medical history N 7806/498. Man, age: 67,
village Maleshev (lies on the outskirts of Khoiniki).
Admitted on the 14th of May.
Diagnosis: radioactive contamination. The
exposure dose rate of the thyroid gland — 1,700 µR/h.
Blood analysis: leukocytes — 2,400 mln/l,trombocytes — 100,000/ml. Complaints: weakness,headache, dull pains in the heart area. Discharged on
the 21st of May.
Syndrome of laryngitis
24. Medical history N 7783/512. Man, age: 50,
village Borschevka. Admitted on the 12th of May withthe diagnosis: radioactive contamination. The
exposure dose rate of the thyroid gland — higher than
3,000 µR/h. Complaints: headache, dry cough,scratchy feeling in the throat. By ENT examination:marked hyperaemia of mucosa. Discharged on the 23rdof May.
25. Medical history N 7785/490. Woman, age: 47,
village Nebytov. Admitted on the 13th of May with thediagnosis: radiation contamination. The patient had
stayed within 65 kilometres from the Chernobyl NPP.
The patient worked in the state farm. Exposed bodyparts — sun-tanned. Complaints: headache, weakness,itch of the skin, burning in the mouth, dry cough. The
exposure dose rate of the thyroid gland — 300 µR/h.
Blood analysis: leukocytes — 2,800 mln/l,trombocytes — 140,000/ml.
26. Medical history N 3637/363. Woman, age: 36,
village Pogonnoye. Admitted on the 5th of May. Bloodanalysis: leukocytes — 3,400 mln/l. The exposure
dose rate of the thyroid gland — 1,400 µR/h.
Complaints: aches, scratchy feeling in the throat.
Discharged on the 12th of May.
High gamma radiation of the thyroid gland
27. Medical history N 8239/588. Man, age: 57,
village Lomatchi, forest worker. Admitted on the 14thof May. Data of the thyroid gland exposure dose ratemeasurement — 16 mR/h. Complaints: general
weakness, bitter mouth, headache. Discharged on the
14th of May.
28. Medical history N 8011/554. Man, age: 21, townof Khoiniki. Admitted on the 23rd of May for
examination from the medical-sanitary field unit withthe diagnosis: "radiation level could not be measured(?)". The exposure dose rate of thyroid gland — 13
mR/h. Blood analysis: leukocytes — 2,500 mln/l.

Conclusion
Just a single case (the patient Krychenko) is enoughto reject the point of view which the IAEA, the Red
Cross, the WHO and other organisations confine to,namely that acute radiation syndrome cases could nothave occurred and did not occurred outside of theChernobyl NPP site. However, the case of the patient
Krychenko could not have been single. When in thevillage Borschevka ARS was observed with at least
1% of inhabitants, the same index must be even higher
for the villages Masany, Ulasy and others. It is known
that 5,200 persons were evacuated from the 30
kilometre zone of the Khoiniki district, while the total
number of inhabitants in this was more than 100
thousand persons. As a result we need to expect morethan 1,000 cases of ARS.
The obtained data testify to the fact that the highest
ionising irradiation levels was observed on the 26th and27th of April. Over these two days a dose from 100 to
300 rem could have been received in certain conditions(work in the open air, getting sun-tanned).
It has been also found that the number of irradiatedpersons in the 30 kilometre zone exceeds the numberof inhabitants of this district. This is accounted by asignificant number of people who came to spend theweekend (26th and 27th of April) in this area.
The fact that irradiation was at its highest on the
26th and 27th of April points to the possible irradiationof a significant number of Belorussian inhabitants,
including those, who lived far outside the 30 kilometrezone (in the first place, those who were getting
sun-tanned worked in the gardens and spent a longtime in the open air). This factor should be taken into
account in the analysis of all ailments registeredamong the Belorussian citizens in April-June 1986
with a number of peculiarities which were not clearly
explained so far.
References
1. V.Lupandin, “Invisible Victims”, NABAT, 36, October
1992 (Japanese translation was published in
Gijutsu-to-Ningen, April 1993, pp.24-31).
2. R. Hirokawa, “Chernobyl: Looking for Lost Medical
Records”, Gendai, Sep 1993, pp.118-129 (in Japanese).
3. Los Angeles Times, April 14, 1992.

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