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Yablokov: Nonmalignant Diseases after Chernobyl 11120. There were many reports concerningneurophysiological, neuropsychological, andneuroimaging abnormalities in liquidators(Danylov and Pozdeev, 1994; Zhavoronkovaet al., 1994, 2000; Vyatleva et al., 1997;Khomskaja, 1995; Khartchenko et al., 1995;Kholodova et al., 1996; Voloshyna, 1997).These data strongly support clinical findingsof organic brain damage caused byradiation (Chuprykov et al., 1992; Krasnovet al., 1993; Romodanov and Vynnyts’ky, 1993;Napreyenko and Loganovsky, 1995, 2001;Revenok, 1998; Zozulya and Polischuyk, 1995;Morozov and Kryzhanovskaya, 1998).21. Many liquidators had complex organicdisorders of the brain, including: (a) hypometaboliccenters localized in white and graymatter and in deep subcortical formations; (b)ventricular enlargement, often asymmetric; (c)expansion of the arachnoid cavity; (d) decreaseddensity of the white brain substance; (e) thinningof the corpus callosum; and (f) diffusesingular or multiple localized space-occupyinglesions of the brain tissue (Kholodova et al.,1998; Ushakov et al., 1997; Nyagy andLoganovsky, 1998; Loganovsky, 2002; andothers).22. Four hundred liquidators 24 to 59 yearsof age with organic disorders of the central nervoussystem have irreversible structural braindefects: structural changes in the frontal lobe,the left temporal area, and the connectionsin the cortex–subcortex (Khartchenko et al.,1995; Antipchuk, 2002, 2003; Zhavoronkovaet al., 2002; Antonov et al., 2003; Tsygan,2003).23. Typical complaints from liquidators includesevere headaches, not relieved by medications,impaired memory of current events,general weakness, fatigue, diminished capacityfor work, generalized sweating, palpitations,bone and joint pains and aches that interferewith their sleep, sporadic loss of consciousness,sensation of fever or heat, difficulty in thinking,heart seizures, flashes, loss of vision, andnumbness in hands and feet (Sokolova, 2000;Kholodova, 2006).24. The neurological damage suffered byliquidators includes well-marked autonomicnervous system dysfunction expressed as acrocyanosis,acrohyperhydrosis, and common hyperhydrosis,sponginess and puffiness of softtissues, facial redness, diffuse dermographism,asthenia, and depressive syndromes. Other organicnervous system impairments include cranialnerve abnormalities, marked hyperreflexia,the presence of pathological reflexes, andabnormal Romberg test scores (Kholodova,2006).25. Characteristic dysfunction in liquidatorsinvolves deep parts of the brain: diencephalicareas, deep frontal and temporal lobes, and occipitoparietalparts of the cerebral hemispheres(Kholodova, 2006).26. Liquidators demonstrate impaired taskperformance, a shortening of attention span,and problems with short-term memory and operativethinking. These features correspond toskill levels typical of 10- to 11-year-old childrenand cannot be attributed to social factors—theyclearly testify to radiation-induced brain damage(Kholodova, 2006).27. EEG brain activity demonstrates twotypes of pathologies: high-amplitude slowedalpha- and theta-wave bands, reflecting pathologyof the visceral brain, and diffuse decreasesin bioelectric activity, reflecting diffuse cortexand subcortical area damage (Kholodova,2006).28. The seriousness of brain pathology in liquidatorscorrelates with impaired blood circulationin various cortical white substance sitesand deep subcortical formations (Kholodova,2006).5.8.1.4. Other Countries1. ESTONIA. After Chernobyl, suicide was theleading cause of death among liquidators livingin Estonia (Rahu et al., 2006).2. LITHUANIA. Age-adjusted mortality fromsuicide increased among the Chernobyl liquidatorscompared to the general Lithuanianpopulation (Kesminiene et al., 1997).