The follow-up of the accident has already proved to be informative in respect of gaining improved or new understanding of the effects of ionising radiation at low doses and dose-rates and where radioactivity is internalised. However, controversies about the health impact to date and in the future, and new information on radiation risk which has been derived since the accident and as a result of it, send a somewhat unsettling message to potentially exposed populations; namely that whatever confidence may be expressed by public health professionals about the health impact of an accident, there is the possibility that that confidence may be misplaced.
The participants in this project take very seriously their obligation to communicate with key stakeholders the results of the project that may be of importance to residents of the most contaminated territories, to physicians, support groups and the general public and efforts will be devoted to developing an effective communication strategy.
Results of the project will be communicated to the public health authorities of the three most affected countries (Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine) in order to assist in planning of the long-term public health programmes to reduce the health impact of the Chernobyl accident.
The present public website will also provide a mechanism for input of ideas and suggestions by the scientific community and other concerned stakeholders. Information about the project and information on health effects of Chernobyl to date and on on-going activities will be provided on the website. The website will also provide links to related websites on the consequences of the Chernobyl accident.
Once the project objectives have been achieved, communications of the results – particularly the strategic research agenda – will be of utmost importance; therefore a non-technical summary will be posted on the website.
Once prepared, the agenda will be submitted for an impartial review to the Peer Review Group. Comments will also be solicited from key stakeholders. The agenda will be presented to the EU, to relevant national and international bodies and to stakeholders for information and endorsement on the occasion of an international workshop, organized at the time of the 24th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident,
It is envisaged that the strategic research agenda will provide a mechanism for mobilising long-term funding for research on the health effects of the accident.