[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF CHERNOBYL

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 1994

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster marks a tragic 
milestone in the history of the world. Today is the eighth anniversary 
of this nuclear explosion that continues to have such a devastating 
effect, especially in Ukraine and Belarus.
  The explosion of the reactor at Chernobyl released approximately 50 
times more radioactivity than was released by the atomic bombs at 
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Thousands of people, many of them nuclear 
cleanup workers, have already died as a result of radiation exposure 
from Chernobyl.
  With the passage of time there is a tendency to forget, and hence, 
become complacent about the ramifications of this disaster. However, 
although 8 years have passed, the scope of the destruction and its 
long-term effects cannot be understated. Inadequate decontamination 
efforts have failed to eliminate the radiation. The sarcophagus, or 
covering, over the obliterated fourth reactor has developed serious 
cracks. Unless serious measures are taken to repair it, experts fear 
that it will corrode before the end of the decade, releasing tons of 
radioactive dust into the atmosphere. In addition, there are continuing 
concerns about radionuclide pollution of the Dnipro River, Ukraine's 
main river and source of Kiev's drinking water.
  The health consequences of Chernobyl remain devastating. There is 
incontrovertible evidence that the Chernobyl catastrophe has had 
deleterious effects on the health of hundreds of thousands of people, 
including illnesses of the thyroid gland, blood related diseases, and 
other illnesses. Thyroid cancer in children is 80 times higher than 
normal and rising.
  Mr. Speaker, the biggest health impact, however, is yet to come. 
Because of the latency period for various radiation-related diseases, 
the peak effect on the health of the population is expected to come 
between 1996 and 2006. This provides us with an opportunity to provide 
assistance to help develop the sorely lacking medical infrastructures 
in Ukraine and Belarus when that peak effect strikes.
  Another way in which we can help to overcome the devastating legacy 
of Chernobyl is to ensure that it never happens again. Unfortunately, 
economically devastated Ukraine is still utilizing the notoriously 
unsafe RBMK-Chernobyl type reactors. The international community must 
help Ukraine and Russia improve the safety of their nuclear reactors. 
One alternative might include speeding the construction of safer 
reactors. I can think of few areas in which the international 
community's assistance efforts would be ore worthwhile and in keeping 
with our environmental, national security, and humanitarian interests.

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