98 



Chernobyl impacts are still being assessed. "Science" July 

 24, 1992, page 481 discussed the possible impact on the mind not 

 just from mental stress or "radiophobia, " but actual damage to 

 membrane phospholipids in brain cells. Our technology has out 

 paced our understanding of the impacts that proceed with the 

 advances that science provides. Now lack of government 

 regulation and structure in Russia may increase the chance of an 

 unintentional discharge of nuclear materials. 



Internationally agencies of the United States have signed 

 two agreements in the past few years to cooperate with the 

 dissemination of information on circumpolar issues. The Finnish 

 Initiative and the International Arctic Science Committee (lASC) . 

 At the April 27-29, 1992 meeting of lASC it was agreed that the 

 "lUCH (International Union for Circumpolar Health) was the expert 

 body on health issues in the Arctic," and "Council decided to 

 liaise with lUCH through its President. lUCH's Council was asked 

 to constitute a standing advisory body to lASC as- to medical and 

 health services in the Arctic. lASC would also draw on lUCH 

 advice as to including these sciences into multi-disciplinary 

 programmes being initiated or supported by lASC." 



As Vice-President of lUCH and President of the American 

 Society for Circumpolar Health, the adhering body of lUCH from 

 the United States of America, I urge you to follow the 

 international decision to involve our professional societies. I 

 request that any and all materials that result from the 

 investigation of the international transmigration of pollutants 

 be reviewed for their medical and health implications. I request 

 that local, regional. State, and Federal health officials be 

 actively involved in the multi-disciplinary programs which should 

 result from these hearings and the growing concerns of Arctic 

 contamination. It is imperative to involve those to whom 

 community health has been entrusted. Every citizen cannot 

 understand the complexities and risk assessments that comprise 

 these highly technical issues. The monitoring researchers must 

 include the health scientists as well as the health care 

 providers, all of whom can provide explanations as to the health 

 impact of the changing environment to their own communities. 



I thank you for your time and consideration of these issues. 

 The American Society for Circumpolar health has for a quarter of 

 a century worked to foster international cooperation in Arctic 

 health science research. We must be involved at some level in 

 any evaluation of nuclear monitoring in the circumpolar regions. 



Sincerely, 



^ ^!i>i,//^ 



Carl M. Mild, M.S. Sci. Mgmt. 

 President ASCH 

 Vice-President lUCH 



