Health survey of Fukushima Pref. residents starts
Jun. 28, 2011
The Fukushima prefectural government on Monday started what is expected to be an extended health survey of all of its approximately 2 million residents in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, with 10 people getting checked for internal radiation exposure at a facility in the city of Chiba.
The 10 residents from the town of Namie underwent urine tests and had measurements taken for radioactive substances inside their bodies using whole-body counters at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, but the tests did not immediately show any signs of abnormality.
The survey by Fukushima Prefecture is an unprecedented effort to continuously examine the health condition of its residents, who are concerned about radiation exposure, over a period of several decades.
It is drawing global attention as, unlike the effects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there is no data yet on how long-term low-dose exposure to radioactive materials affects the human body.
After Monday's tests at the institute, which lasted around 90 minutes, two residents -- a man and a woman -- gave a press conference before the 10 residents were bused back to Fukushima Prefecture.
The woman, 35, said, ''I was told there are no abnormalities for now. Members of my family who were with me can also feel relieved.'' But she added, ''I would have liked to undergo the exam a bit sooner.''
As part of the survey, a total of around 120 people from the municipalities of Namie, Iitate and Kawamata, which are either inside the no-entry zone within a radius of 20 kilometers from the nuclear power plant or in nearby evacuation areas, are set to undergo tests at the institute in about 10 days, prefectural government officials said.
Full-fledged examinations of all those who were resident in Fukushima Prefecture as of March 11, when the massive earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima plant, will start in August, following initial checks on all residents of the three municipalities, they said.
The central government plans to establish a 100 billion yen fund to continue the long-term study for around 30 years.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on June 27, 2011)
The 10 residents from the town of Namie underwent urine tests and had measurements taken for radioactive substances inside their bodies using whole-body counters at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, but the tests did not immediately show any signs of abnormality.
The survey by Fukushima Prefecture is an unprecedented effort to continuously examine the health condition of its residents, who are concerned about radiation exposure, over a period of several decades.
It is drawing global attention as, unlike the effects of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there is no data yet on how long-term low-dose exposure to radioactive materials affects the human body.
After Monday's tests at the institute, which lasted around 90 minutes, two residents -- a man and a woman -- gave a press conference before the 10 residents were bused back to Fukushima Prefecture.
The woman, 35, said, ''I was told there are no abnormalities for now. Members of my family who were with me can also feel relieved.'' But she added, ''I would have liked to undergo the exam a bit sooner.''
As part of the survey, a total of around 120 people from the municipalities of Namie, Iitate and Kawamata, which are either inside the no-entry zone within a radius of 20 kilometers from the nuclear power plant or in nearby evacuation areas, are set to undergo tests at the institute in about 10 days, prefectural government officials said.
Full-fledged examinations of all those who were resident in Fukushima Prefecture as of March 11, when the massive earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima plant, will start in August, following initial checks on all residents of the three municipalities, they said.
The central government plans to establish a 100 billion yen fund to continue the long-term study for around 30 years.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on June 27, 2011)
