Freeman S E, Ormiston-Smith H M
School of Education, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.
Med War. 1994 Apr-Jun;10(2):106-26. doi: 10.1080/07488009408409149.
The health hazards associated with exposure to low levels of plutonium are reviewed since, though the world may escape a nuclear war, there may be virtually permanent contamination of the biosphere by plutonium from a number of sources. It would seem that it is possible to offer workers in the nuclear industry an acceptable level of protection but that low levels of pollution around such sites may build up until there is a hazard for people in the vicinity. The cases of childhood leukaemia found in the vicinity of the Sellafield facility may or may not be related to contamination in the area; however, plutonium is a potent carcinogen, and the foetus seems to be particularly vulnerable to it. The disposal of nuclear waste must be monitored more closely, and it is suggested that the International Atomic Energy Agency should take on this added responsibility.
鉴于尽管世界可能避免核战争，但来自多个来源的钚可能对生物圈造成几乎永久性的污染，因此对与接触低水平钚相关的健康危害进行了审查。似乎有可能为核工业中的工人提供可接受的保护水平，但此类场所周围的低水平污染可能会逐渐累积，直至对附近居民构成危害。在塞拉菲尔德设施附近发现的儿童白血病病例可能与该地区的污染有关，也可能无关；然而，钚是一种强效致癌物，胎儿似乎对其尤为敏感。必须更密切地监测核废料的处置，建议国际原子能机构承担起这一额外责任。
