Chernobyl necklace
Encyclopedia
Chernobyl necklace is a horizontal scar left on the base of the neck after a surgery to remove a malignant thyroid
gland (thyroid cancer
) caused by radiation poisoning
. The scar typically takes "a long time" to fade, and during that time, the bearers are visually recognizable as Chernobyl victims.
The term takes its name from the large number of people who suffered from thyroid cancer after the Chernobyl disaster
.
Some sources refer to the scar as the Belarus
necklace
or the Belarussian Necklace,
in reference to the large number of thyroid cancer occurrences in the nation caused by the nuclear fallout
from neighboring Ukraine
.
The use of the word necklace
indicates its visual resemblance to the horizontal scar around the neck, but also contrasts the negative connotations of the scar with the beauty of an actual necklace made of precious metals and gems.
is required by higher animals to synthesize thyroid hormones, which contain the element. Because of this function, radioisotopes of iodine are concentrated in the thyroid gland along with nonradioactive iodine. In the case of a nuclear accident, the radioactive iodine-131
(I-131), which has a high fission product yield
, is released into the environment. I-131 concentrates in the thyroid, and and may cause cancer.
Treatment of thyroid cancer may require surgery
.
The surgery may leave the patient with one or two horizontal scars at the base of the neck, dubbed the Chernobyl necklace.
, 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.
Medical cases of the necklace are not limited to Chernobyl. US
journalist Valerie Brown — who has the necklace herself, while having no connections with the Chernobyl disaster — speculates that radioactive waste from nuclear laboratories and nuclear fallout
from Nevada Test Site
were responsible.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
, experts including Robert Alvarez and Natalia Manzurova believe that Japan
faces a similar situation: its affected population may wear the Chernobyl necklace in the future.
On the other hand, Carolyn Y. Johnson, of The Boston Globe
, wrote that the response from Japan's government was more appropriate than Ukraine's; evacuation of residents near Fukushima and the distribution of potassium iodide
pills may have decreased the amount of people affected.
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
gland (thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
) caused by radiation poisoning
Radiation poisoning
Acute radiation syndrome also known as radiation poisoning, radiation sickness or radiation toxicity, is a constellation of health effects which occur within several months of exposure to high amounts of ionizing radiation...
. The scar typically takes "a long time" to fade, and during that time, the bearers are visually recognizable as Chernobyl victims.
The term takes its name from the large number of people who suffered from thyroid cancer after the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
.
Some sources refer to the scar as the Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
necklace
or the Belarussian Necklace,
in reference to the large number of thyroid cancer occurrences in the nation caused by the nuclear fallout
Nuclear fallout
Fallout is the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast, so called because it "falls out" of the sky after the explosion and shock wave have passed. It commonly refers to the radioactive dust and ash created when a nuclear weapon explodes...
from neighboring Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
The use of the word necklace
Necklace
A necklace is an article of jewellery which is worn around the neck. Necklaces are frequently formed from a metal jewellery chain. Others are woven or manufactured from cloth using string or twine....
indicates its visual resemblance to the horizontal scar around the neck, but also contrasts the negative connotations of the scar with the beauty of an actual necklace made of precious metals and gems.
Cause
IodineIodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
is required by higher animals to synthesize thyroid hormones, which contain the element. Because of this function, radioisotopes of iodine are concentrated in the thyroid gland along with nonradioactive iodine. In the case of a nuclear accident, the radioactive iodine-131
Iodine-131
Iodine-131 , also called radioiodine , is an important radioisotope of iodine. It has a radioactive decay half-life of about eight days. Its uses are mostly medical and pharmaceutical...
(I-131), which has a high fission product yield
Fission product yield
Nuclear fission splits a heavy nucleus such as uranium or plutonium into two lighter nuclei, which are called fission products. Yield refers to the fraction of a fission product produced per fission.Yield can be broken down by:#Individual isotope...
, is released into the environment. I-131 concentrates in the thyroid, and and may cause cancer.
Treatment of thyroid cancer may require surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
.
The surgery may leave the patient with one or two horizontal scars at the base of the neck, dubbed the Chernobyl necklace.
Occurrences
After the Chernobyl disaster, incidents of thyroid cancer among civilians in BelarusBelarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
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
Chernobyl disaster effects
The Chernobyl disaster triggered the release of substantial amounts of radiation into the atmosphere in the form of both particulate and gaseous radioisotopes. It is the most significant unintentional release of radiation into the environment to date...
for details.
Medical cases of the necklace are not limited to Chernobyl. US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist Valerie Brown — who has the necklace herself, while having no connections with the Chernobyl disaster — speculates that radioactive waste from nuclear laboratories and nuclear fallout
Nuclear fallout
Fallout is the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear blast, so called because it "falls out" of the sky after the explosion and shock wave have passed. It commonly refers to the radioactive dust and ash created when a nuclear weapon explodes...
from Nevada Test Site
Nevada Test Site
The Nevada National Security Site , previously the Nevada Test Site , is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about northwest of the city of Las Vegas...
were responsible.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
The is a series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdowns, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011. The plant comprises six separate boiling water reactors originally designed by General Electric ,...
, experts including Robert Alvarez and Natalia Manzurova believe that Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
faces a similar situation: its affected population may wear the Chernobyl necklace in the future.
On the other hand, Carolyn Y. Johnson, of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
, wrote that the response from Japan's government was more appropriate than Ukraine's; evacuation of residents near Fukushima and the distribution of potassium iodide
Potassium iodide
Potassium iodide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KI. This white salt is the most commercially significant iodide compound, with approximately 37,000 tons produced in 1985. It is less hygroscopic than sodium iodide, making it easier to work with...
pills may have decreased the amount of people affected.
External links
- A photo of the Chernobyl necklace (Belarus necklace) taken by Gabriela Bulisova