The primary health effects of radiation are traditionally believed to result from cellular genetic damage.These effects are believed to result in a statistically detectable increase in the induction of cancer in exposedpopulations. A significant number of residents of areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster and workers involved inthe clean-up (‘liquidators’) have reported debilitating physical illnesses that cannot be easily explained by a geneticeffect. This paper presents results of a literature search that strongly suggests that a previously unrecognized neural pathway may be responsible for the induction of these debilities. In addition, a common link between radiation and chemical sensitivity syndromes may now be identified.