Chernobyl necklace

Cause

The radioactive iodine isotope iodine-131 (131I) has a relatively high fission product yield; in the case of a nuclear accident, 131I is released into the environment in the nuclear fallout. Iodine is a vital micronutrient in vertebrate biology, and tends to bioaccumulate in the thyroid gland—the primary iodine-reliant organ of the body—which requires it in order to synthesise thyroid hormones. Environmental 131I is taken up in the diet, and like the stable isotope 127I, is accumulated in the thyroid; once there, the high-energy beta radiation emitted by 131I significantly increases the risk of cancer. Treatment of thyroid cancer may require surgery, potentially leaving the patient with one or two horizontal scars at the base of the neck. It is these scars that have been dubbed the "Chernobyl necklace".

Occurrences

After the Chernobyl disaster, incidents of thyroid cancer among civilians in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland have risen sharply. It is estimated that many of those affected have the necklace, however, no statistical information of the affected population exists at this time. See the article on Chernobyl disaster effects for details.

After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, there has been some speculation that Japan faces a similar situation: its affected population may receive similar surgery and scarring ("wear the Chernobyl necklace") in the future.

In literature

The phenomenon inspired the title of the 1999 book Bagrjane namisto ("The Crimson Necklace"), by poet and Chernobyl survivor Valentin Mikhailjuk.

References

References

1. (2008). "Living In The Environment". Brooks/Cole.
2. (2013). "Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Facilities". People's Medical Publishing House.
3. Alexis-Martin, Becky. (30 June 2015). "The Chernobyl necklace: the psychosocial experiences of female radiation emergency survivors". Belgeo (Belgian Journal of Geography).
4. Kronik, Aleksandr A.. (December 1999). "Trauma and disaster as life disrupters: A model of computer-assisted psychotherapy applied to adolescent victims of the Chernobyl disaster". [[Professional Psychology: Research and Practice]].
5. Bulisova, Gabriela. (2005). "Chernobyl Revisited".
6. Millar, Sarah. (25 March 2011). "A Chernobyl scientist recalls her years spent at the plant". Toronto Star.
7. Alford, Erika Masuda. (25 March 2011). "Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach".
8. Nocera, Joe. (11 July 2011). "Chernobyl's Lingering Scars". The New York Times.
9. Paschyn, Christina Maria. (27 April 2011). "Will Women in Japan Wear the "Chernobyl Necklace"?". Ms. Magazine Blog.
10. Mikhailjuk, Valentin. (1999). "Багряне намисто". Institut Narodoznavstva NAN Ukraïni.
11. . (5 May 2011). ["Вечір памяті "Чорнобиль стукає в наші серця""](http://kslibrary.org.ua/62-vechir-pamyati-chornobil-stukaye-v-nashi-sercya.html).