Speaker
Mr
Sunichi Yamashita
Description
A sound scientific understanding about the relationship between radiation dose and health risk is needed to apply any countermeasure against radiological and nuclear accidents. Since the Great East Japan earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan, Fukushima Prefecture has started the Fukushima Health Management Survey Project since June 2011 for the purpose of long-term health care administration for the prefectural residents. There are considerable differences between Chernobyl and Fukushima regarding radiation dose to the public, however, it is still difficult to estimate retrospectively accurate internal exposure dose individually from the short-lived radioactive iodines. Another difficult challenge is to how to manage non-radiation-related health effects, such as post-disaster mental impact and lifestyle changes. As we support residents in their recovery and return to their homes, understanding each individual’s state with respect to radiation and regular monitoring of their health conditions contribute to the region’s rebirth and restoration. Therefore, as one of the tools of risk communication, the necessity of thyroid ultrasound examination in Fukushima and the intermediate results of this survey targeting children will be reviewed and discussed in order to avoid any misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the high detection rate of childhood and adolescent thyroid cancer by mass screening.
| Country or International Organization | Japan |
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Primary author
Mr
Sunichi Yamashita
