Disaster Medicine
Bromet EJ.
J Radiol Prot. 2012 Mar;32(1):N71-5.
Abstract
The psychosocial consequences of disasters have been studied for more than 100 years. The most common mental health consequences are depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, medically unexplained somatic symptoms, and stigma. The excess morbidity rate of psychiatric disorders in the first year after a disaster is in the order of 20%. Disasters involving radiation are particularly pernicious because the exposure is invisible and universally dreaded, and can pose a long-term threat to health. After the Chernobyl disaster, studies of clean-up workers (liquidators) and adults from contaminated areas found a two-fold increase in post-traumatic stress and other mood and anxiety disorders and significantly poorer subjective ratings of health.
Disaster Medicine
Mental health consequences of the Chernobyl disaster
Read more...KAMEDO report no. 78: nuclear accident in Japan, 1999
Joussineau S, Riddez L; Swedish Disaster Medicine Study Organization.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006 Mar-Apr;21(2):117-8.
A break in safety locks resulted in the release of high quantities of gamma and neutron radiation directly exposed three workers and indirectly exposed as many as 310,000 other persons. The two persons who received the highest doses ultimatley succumbed due to the latent effects of the radiation on the skin and mucous membranes. Improved protection of workers and responders as well as dosimeters are needed in areas where such events may occur. Careful attention must be paid to providing accurate information to the media and to the provision of competent psychosocial support.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2006 Mar-Apr;21(2):117-8.
A break in safety locks resulted in the release of high quantities of gamma and neutron radiation directly exposed three workers and indirectly exposed as many as 310,000 other persons. The two persons who received the highest doses ultimatley succumbed due to the latent effects of the radiation on the skin and mucous membranes. Improved protection of workers and responders as well as dosimeters are needed in areas where such events may occur. Careful attention must be paid to providing accurate information to the media and to the provision of competent psychosocial support.
Concerns of Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) members about troubles at the nuclear power plant: experience from the Niigata Chuetsu-Oki earthquake, 16 July 2007, in Japan
Akashi M, Kumagaya K, Kondo H, Hirose Y.
Health Phys. 2010 Jun;98(6):804-9.
An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the Niigata-Chuetsu region of Japan at 10:13 on 16 July 2007. The earthquake was followed by the sustained occurrence of numerous aftershocks, delaying the reconstruction of community lifelines. The earthquake affected the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plants (NPPs), the biggest NPP site in the world. The earthquake caused damage to NPPs, resulting in a small amount of radioactive materials being released into the air and the sea. However, no significant effects were detected in the public and the environment. As medical response to this earthquake, 42 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) were sent to hospitals and first-aid care centers at the NPP site.
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Health Phys. 2010 Jun;98(6):804-9.
An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck the Niigata-Chuetsu region of Japan at 10:13 on 16 July 2007. The earthquake was followed by the sustained occurrence of numerous aftershocks, delaying the reconstruction of community lifelines. The earthquake affected the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plants (NPPs), the biggest NPP site in the world. The earthquake caused damage to NPPs, resulting in a small amount of radioactive materials being released into the air and the sea. However, no significant effects were detected in the public and the environment. As medical response to this earthquake, 42 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) were sent to hospitals and first-aid care centers at the NPP site.