SPACE RESTRICTIONS

were given as a reason when Science rejected the following letter:

Marvin Goldman's sober assessment (30 October, p. 622) is a refreshing change from the overreaction to Chernobyl. There are, however, two other points involving the death toll from the accident.

First, the death toll will be significantly increased by the fossil-fired power that is now substituting for the destroyed reactor in the USSR. This would be true even if Soviet coal-fired plants had to meet US standards (1); in reality their pollution control is very poor.

Second, though less important, many lives may be prolonged by hormesis, that is, by the beneficial effects of exposure to low-level radiation. The stimulating effect of chemical and biological toxins in small doses has long been known, and in recent years the pheno-menon has also been confirmed for radiation (2).