Public health after a nuclear disaster: beyond radiation risks

• Published in: Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 94; no. 11; pp. 859 - 860
• Main Authors: Leppold, Claire, Tanimoto, Tetsuya, Tsubokura, Masaharu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland World Health Organization 01-11-2016
• Subjects: Analysis; Disaster recovery; Disasters; Disease; Earthquakes; Elderly; Evacuations & rescues; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Japan; Lifestyles; Mental health; Nuclear accidents & safety; Nuclear power plants; Nuclear radiation; Older people; Population; Public health; Radiation; Risk assessment; Thyroid; Thyroid cancer; Tsunamis; Japan
• ISSN: 0042-9686; 1564-0604
• DOI: 10.2471/blt.15.168187

No deaths or acute health effects related to radiation exposure were reported in the general public immediately after the disaster.1 In October 2015, the results of two studies concerning the children of Fukushima were reported within two days of each other; one found no detectable internal radiation contamination,2 while the other found an increased risk of thyroid cancer.3 Although the study reporting an increased risk of thyroid cancer was later publically criticized by the scientific community for faulty study design,4 this follow-up has not reached everyone and many members of the public, and even health professionals, continue to be confused by inconsistent results. In the elderly population, the effects of low levels of radiation exposure may not reach them before their death, whereas the health impact of reduced exercise may appear relatively quickly. [...]evacuation and lifestyle modifications to reduce radiation exposure require a clear justification; without a thorough risk assessment, these changes may be particularly harmful for vulnerable groups such as older people.