scholarly journals The Knowledge and Awareness for Radiocesium Food Monitoring after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuaki Kunii ◽  
Maya Fujimura ◽  
Yukako Komasa ◽  
Akiko Kitamura ◽  
Hitoshi Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Fukushima Prefecture ◽  
Edible Wild Plants ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Fdnpp Accident ◽  
Food Monitoring ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Government

On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced a massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, resulting in the release of large amounts of cesium-134 and -137 into the atmosphere. In addition to the food radioactivity control in the markets throughout the country, radiocesium concentrations in locally grown foods were voluntarily inspected and the results were shown to the residents by the local government to raise their awareness of the internal radiation contamination risk from low knowledge in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. In this longitudinal study, local food products for in-home consumption were evaluated by seven different food radioactivity measuring devices in Nihonmatsu City from 2011–2017. Radiocesium was detected in local foods in Nihonmatsu City even six years after the FDNPP accident. The highest number of products tested was in 2012, with the number steadily decreasing thereafter. Most foods had contamination levels that were within the provisional regulation limits. As edible wild plants and mushrooms continue to possess high radiocesium concentrations, new trends in radioactivity in foods like seeds were discovered. This study highlights that the increased risk of radiation exposure could possibly be due to declining radiation awareness among citizens and food distributors. We recommend the continuation of food monitoring procedures at various points in the food processing line under the responsibility of the government to raise awareness for the reduction of future risks of internal exposure.

Distrust in government and its relationship with mental health after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402096812
Author(s):  
Maiko Fukasawa ◽  
Norito Kawakami ◽  
Maki Umeda ◽  
Tsuyoshi Akiyama ◽  
Naoko Horikoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Residential Area ◽  
National Government ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant Accident ◽  
Fukushima Prefecture ◽  
The Government

Background: Distrust in authorities has negative effects on mental health. Aims: In this study, we aimed to explore whether the impact of distrust in government on mental health became stronger in the area heavily affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. Methods: We examined the effects of distrust in the national government on depressive symptoms three years after the accident among community residents in Fukushima prefecture using those in the Kanto area (the area surrounding Tokyo) as a control. A questionnaire survey was administered to a random sample of 1000 residents in Fukushima prefecture and 1650 residents in the Kanto area. Distrust in the national government was assessed using a four-point single-item scale. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The associations of residential area (i.e. living in Fukushima prefecture or in the Kanto area) and distrust in the national government with depressive symptoms were examined, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and disaster-related experiences using multivariate linear regression analyses. We used the interaction term of residential area and distrust in the government to explore the difference in the association between the respondents in Fukushima prefecture and those in the Kanto area. Results: Valid responses were obtained from 976 (36.8%) residents. Distrust in the government was associated with depressive symptoms and the association was stronger in Fukushima prefecture than in the Kanto area. Conclusion: The deleterious effects of distrust in the government on mental health may become more serious after a nuclear power plant accident and require careful attention during support activities in an affected area.

scholarly journals The institutional structure for decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

2021 ◽  
pp. 014664532110153
Author(s):  
Hajimu Yamana
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Institutional Structure ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Government

This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. This article describes the institutional structure established for decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. To deal with the aftermath of the unprecedented nuclear accident in Fukushima, several responsible institutions such as Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) have worked together at the initiative of the Government of Japan. In this structure, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) implements the decommissioning due to its legal responsibility, while the essential direction and milestones are set by the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters of the Government of Japan. Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation, a government-affiliated organisation, oversees and facilitates the decommissioning by TEPCO, and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority regulates safety from an independent standpoint. The main basic elements essential for the success of this long-term project have been developed, such as the technical strategy, financial system, and organisational capability. Decommissioning is making progress.

Dissolution, Mechanical Properties, and Thermal Stability of Microparticles Containing Radioactive Cesium on Plant Litter Derived from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident,  and Soil Decontamination Trials 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ichiro Tanaka ◽  
Atsushi Yamaguchi ◽  
Kenji Kikuchi ◽  
Nobuo Niimura ◽  
Yume Saeki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Thermal Stability ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Radioactive Cesium ◽  
Soil Decontamination ◽  
Fdnpp Accident ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

<p>The radioactive cesium (<sup>134</sup>Cs and <sup>137</sup>Cs), which originated from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, has remained in the soil and on plants as water-insoluble microparticles (termed as CsMPs) to some extent, and maintained relatively high radioactivity levels in the district. However, it has been reported that the radioactive Cs has been absorbed by plants. To interpret this phenomenon, the authors investigated CsMPs to determine if they become soluble during filtration and dialysis experiments. Moreover, other physical properties, such as mechanical properties and thermal stability, were observed during the course of the relevant experiments. These properties can be obtained by using carbonized charcoal litter with CsMPs. And simple and economic decontamination trials of the soil were performed by sieving after drying and roughly crushing.</p>

scholarly journals Estimated internal exposure doses due to indoor radiocaesium contamination in residential houses after the Fukushima nuclear accident

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Yoshida-Ohuchi ◽  
Naohide Shinohara
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
House Dust ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Internal Exposure ◽  
Effective Doses ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
Work First

Abstract This work first reports the estimation of the internal exposure from ingestion of house dust and inhalation of aerosol, by employing a measured data on 137Cs activities, bioaccessibility (solubility to water and 1 M HCl), and particle size distribution. The house dust and aerosol samples were collected during the actual indoor cleaning by vacuuming and dusting, from 65 houses and buildings in proximity to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) (1.6–16.1 km from the FDNPP) during a period from April 2016 to January 2019. Committed effective doses for an adult owing to the ingestion of house dust of 20 mg per day, which adheres to one’s hands through the hand-to-mouth, and those owing to inhalation of aerosol during dusting for 1.5 h while wearing a mask, were calculated using DCAL software for each house or building, as 1.13 µSv and 4.55 µSv as maximum doses, respectively (as of March 2011). Both the committed effective doses, owing to ingestion and inhalation, were inversely correlated with the distance from the FDNPP, and positively correlated with the indoor surface contamination.

Risk Communication in the Food Field

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (sp) ◽  
pp. 598-602
Author(s):  
Hideaki Karaki ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Government ◽  
The U.S

The first BSE case in Japan was found in 2001. The BSE risk in Japan was small and the measures taken by the government successfully prevented the spread of BSE. However, because consumers did not have accurate information, they did not trust the government and refused to consume beef. Based on the lessons learned, the government enacted the Food Safety Basic Act in 2003, and risk communication in the food field was started. In 2003, the first BSE case was found in the U.S. that were supplying nearly one third of the beef consumed in Japan, and the government banned beef import from the U.S. The BSE risk in the U.S. was also small and it was possible to resume imports of beef after the appropriate measures. Despite the government efforts of risk communication, consumers rejected the resumption of imports. In 2011, food was contaminated with radioactive substances discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Although government eliminated the contaminated food from the market, some consumers rejected all of the agricultural products of the Fukushima region, again a failure of risk communication. Here, the current situation and problems of the risk communication in Japan will be described.

Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Acute Myocardial Infarction in Fukushima Prefecture

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takayoshi Yamaki ◽  
Kazuhiko Nakazato ◽  
Mikihiro Kijima ◽  
Yukio Maruyama ◽  
Yasuchika Takeishi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Fukushima Prefecture ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
Eastern Japan

AbstractObjectiveThe incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) reportedly increases following a huge disaster. On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake hit a large area of eastern Japan. In Fukushima prefecture, many people suffered from the consequences of the earthquake, the subsequent tsunami, and especially the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. We assessed whether the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increased after the earthquake.MethodsWe enrolled AMI patients admitted to 36 hospitals in Fukushima prefecture between March 11, 2009, and March 10, 2013 (n = 3068). We compared the incidence of AMI after the earthquake for more than 3 months and 1 year with that in the control years.ResultsThe incidence of Fukushima's annual AMI patients (per 100 000 persons) in 2011 was similar to that of previous years (n = 38.9 [2011] vs 37.2 [2009] and 38.5 [2010], P = .581). However, a significantly higher incidence of AMI was found in the Iwaki district after the disaster that corresponded to the 1-year period of observation (n = 38.7 [2011] vs 27.3 [2009] and 32.8 [2010], P = .045).ConclusionThe Great East Japan Earthquake affected the incidence of AMI only in limited areas of Fukushima prefecture. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1–8)

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