Emotional consequences of three mile island and chernobyl: Lessons learned for fukushima

Abstract

The psychosocial consequences of the Three Mile Island (TMI) and Chernobyl nuclear power plant accidents are regarded as their biggest public health effect. This chapter reviews the specific evidence about the mental health impact of these enormous events and the unique role of damaging health risk perceptions stemming from perceived radiation exposure. The short-and long-term mental health consequences range from general distress in the form of anxiety and depressive symptoms to clinical depression and anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and medically unexplained physical symptoms. The two most vulnerable groups after TMI and Chernobyl were mothers of very young children residing near the facilities and cleanup workers. The group of greatest concern, namely, children and adolescents raised in the shadows of these events, were not significantly impacted psychologically, socially, or cognitively. The mental health of older adults was not studied. Early findings from Fukushima suggest that anxiety and depression are major issues among the affected population. The elements needed for well-designed, inclusive, multidisciplinary studies of the psychological aftermath of Fukushima are discussed.