This Week's Update － Would there be any health hazard from a low radiation dose of Fukushima? (20th February, 2012)
This Week's Columns
1) It is almost a year since the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant accident. Although that much time has passed, there are incorrect information circulating over radiation, resulting in Japanese society still fearing health damage which could be caused by radioactive materials in Fukushima and East Japan.
Prof. Jun Takada, Radiological Protection Science, Sapporo Medical University, has contributed “Fukushima: Neither Chernobyl, Nor Hiroshima"(English translation coming soon). He is a scientist who has researched nuclear disasters in the world. Based on his research in Fukushima, he analyzes that “Prefecture residents are deemed to have suffered no health hazards originating from radiation."
2) GEPR aim to offer accurate information on low radiation dose issue. GEPR editorial have explored research paper on effect of low dose radiation on human from long term cumulative exposures.
We provide “Would there be any health hazard from a long term low radiation dose? －No damage found from medical research on pilots and radiologists" (English summary coming soon). Health hazards have not been confirmed in the examination of pilots and residents of areas with high levels of natural radiation in countries around the world.
3) Agora Institute who operates GEPR presents a program “Nico Live Agora" once a month on the web TV “Nico-nico Live". The first broadcast this January 19th was "Is radiation really so harmful? Considering risks of nuclear power generation" (Japanese only).
This is written into an article (English summary coming soon). Dr. Nobuo Ikeda, Agora Institute suggested; “What is important is to minimize the damage of accident. We must consider rehabilitation on the premise that there will be no health hazard in Fukushima." which all the speakers agreed with.
This Week's Academic Articles
1) There are various studies on long term cumulative low radiation dose, which does not immediately affect health. Commercial pilots are exposed to higher radiation than public during flight. In the “Cosmic radiation and cancer mortality among airline pilots: results from a European cohort study (ESCAPE)." 19,184 male pilots were studied. Analyses showed no substantially increased health risks such as for cancer.
2) Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation:a Perspective for Japan
There is a concept that a small radiation dose is rather beneficial and will lower mortality. Radon hot springs, for example, are considered to be good for one's health, which is called the “hormesis hypothesis". This hypothesis is introduced in an article “Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation: a Perspective for Japan" by an American scientist, Prof. T. D. Luckey. This hypothesis has not been scientifically proven at this stage. Naturally, even if it is effective, it will be limited.
