Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Health, Legislation, Lithuania, Society

"Disease incidence among the Chernobyl liquidators is higher than among other Lithuanian residents of their age," Gediminas Rimdeika, who is vice-president of the charity foundation Musu Krantas, said at a news conference at the Seimas.

According to the doctor, the incidence of blood diseases among the so-called Chernobyl liquidators is 10-16 times higher than that among other people living in Lithuania.

"I would give their health a three on a scale of five. They suffer from cancer and cardiovascular and blood diseases. Another big problem we don't speak about much is suicides," he told BNS.

Some 7,212 people from Lithuania, then part of the Soviet Union, were taken to Ukraine to deal with the consequences of the 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The Seimas on Friday is hosting an international conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

Participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Japan, Israel, Ukraine and Belarus are taking part in discussions about nuclear energy and its risks and nuclear accidents, as well as the situation of the Chernobyl liquidators in different countries.