Content-Length: 65310 | pFad | https://www.greenfacts.org/en/fukushima-accident/index.htm
Context - On 11 March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake and a series of large tsunami waves hit the east coast of Japan, causing widespread damage to infrastructures, and notably to the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
What are the health impacts of this accident for the workers and for the general population?
This is a faithful summary of the leading report produced in 2013 by the World Health Organization (WHO): "Health risk assessment from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, based on a preliminary dose estimation (2013)
This is the first analysis of the global health effects due to radiation exposure after the Fukushima accident done with the aim to estimate its potential public health impact so that future possible health needs can be anticipated.
This health risk assessment was conducted by independent international experts who were selected by WHO for their expertise and experience in radiation risk modelling, epidemiology, dosimetry, radiation effects and public health.
On 11 March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake and a series of large tsunami waves hit the east coast of Japan, causing widespread damage to infrastructures. At the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the power supply and the means to control and cool the reactors, were knocked out. In the days that followed, three reactors experienced meltdown, and a series of hydrogen gas explosions released radionuclides into the environment. A 3-km evacuation zone was established and then quickly increased to a 20-km evacuation zone. Other protective actions were implemented to reduce doses in the longer term, including the relocation of people in some areas. Stable iodine for thyroid blocking was distributed but it is thought that only a small number of people actually used it.
Adverse health effects of ionizing radiation may result from two distinct mechanisms:
Evidence from historic events confirms that any major, uncontrolled release of radiation should be cause for immediate response and scientific assessment of potential health effects.
Lifetime organ doses were estimated for the general population within geographical locations ranging from the most affected areas of Fukushima prefecture to the rest of the world. The lifetime risks were estimated for both sexes and three different ages at exposure (1 year [infant], 10 years [child], and 20 years [adult]). Health risks for male emergency workers were estimated for three different ages (20 years, 40 years, and 60 years.
No acute effects of radiation exposure such as acute radiation syndrome or skin injuries have been observed among the general population.
Apart for the workers who were carrying dosimeters, it is very difficult to evaluate the amount of radiation that people were exposed to. Estimates are deliberately made to limit the possibility of underestimating eventual health risks. In general, females show a greater increase in risk of cancer compared to males, and people exposed as infants show a greater increase in risk than people exposed as children or adults.
These are exposure increases over the baseline level which means, for instance, that if the expected risk of thyroid cancer in females over their lifetime is 0.77%, and that the additional lifetime risk assessed for females exposed as infants is 70%, that is 0.52%; then the total expected risk is 1.29%.
Health effects other than cancer may include thyroid diseases (nodules, dysfunction), visual impairment (lens opacities, cataracts), acute skin reactions, hematopoietic, gastrointestinal and neurovascular disturbances, depending on the dose range.
The relationship between radiation exposure and lifetime risk of cancer is complex and varies depending on several factors, mainly radiation dose, age at time of exposure, sex and cancer site. These factors can influence the uncertainty in projecting radiation risks, in particular when assessing risks at low doses.
These estimates provide valuable information for setting priorities in the coming years for population health monitoring, as has already begun with the Fukushima Health Management Survey.
Because scientific understanding of radiation effects, particularly at low doses, may increase in the future, it is possible that further investigation and additional dose estimations may change our current understanding of the risks of this radiation accident.
GreenFacts highlights of the WHO report: "Health risk assessment from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, based on a preliminary dose estimation (2013)" http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/pub_meet/fukushima_risk_assessment_2013/en/
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