Health fears of Fukushima residents

One year after the triple crisis of the central government information leaves families confused and conflict fear of the future

Noise levels

hover in the gym at the center Fukushima City youth that dozens of children in kindergarten was dropped on bouncy castles and wells filled with plastic balls.

The handful of teachers and volunteer service are forgiving mood. During the past year, the Fukushima nuclear accident stole these children the freedom to perform simple

However, concerned parents and teachers have them confined to their homes and classrooms, while prolonged exposure to a scientific discussion of the possible effects of low levels of radiation have on your health .

"Many parents do not let their children play outside, even in places where the radiation is not as high," said Koji Fukushima Nomi chapter of the Japanese Red Cross Society, which organized the event. "Unless they have a chance to run, his physical strength is at risk of deterioration.

"This in turn puts them at risk of succumbing to stress. Some are allowed to play outside for short periods each day, but that is not enough."

hundreds of thousands of children in the region have lived with similar restrictions since the crisis to triple the plant Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power in March, sending radioactive particles over a wide area.

The immediate threat of a catastrophic release has passed, but residents of several cities, among which are outside the exclusion zone of 12 miles (20km), say they live in fear of the invisible threat in their midst.

Kumiko Abe and his family evacuated from Iitate, 39 kilometers from the center, a few weeks after the accident, according to a study conducted by Tetsuji Imanaka, associate professor of nuclear engineering at Kyoto University Reactor Research Institute, which is unusually high radiation pockets of the population.

now live in private accommodation in the city of Fukushima, but Abe said he takes precautions to protect your nine year-old daughter, Momoe.

"We have stopped eating rice grown by the parents of my husband, and never buy vegetables locally grown," said Abe, 46 years. "I started purchase of imported meat, and drink only bottled water. I try not to hang clothes on windy days ... I would be able to express our futons, but I can not. "

Its central concern of his daughter, who has a small lump in your thyroid gland. The doctors assured that it is benign. "Although they say there is nothing to fear, I wish it had more frequent testing," said Abe.

His concern is compounded by the contradictory messages of experts on the risk of exposure to low-level radiation.

Shunichi Yamashita

, professor at Fukushima Medical University, serving as an advisor in the management of radiation risks for local communities, parents furious when he said that exposure to 100 millisieverts year - the recommended level for nuclear workers in an emergency - was safe, even for children. Since then, said his comments were taken out of context.

a cumulative dose of 100 millisieverts per year during the life of a person increases the risk of dying from cancer of 0.5%, according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

No studies have linked the development of cancer with exposure below this level, but agreed that the case of Fukushima is unprecedented.

Much of the discomfort is due to many different radiation levels recorded in the same areas: parts of Fukushima outside the evacuation zone, the measures vary significantly to achieve 50 millisieverts per year. Normally, the Japanese are exposed to about 1 millisievert background radiation a year.

The occurrence of thyroid cancer in children living near Chernobyl is in the back of the minds of many parents, despite the UN data show that exposure to radioactive iodine, an established cause of the disease was much lower in Fukushima.

• activists said this week that the Japanese government has been slow in providing health checks and information to residents.
"A year later, we do not really see the basic health services provided in an accessible format and we do not see accurate, consistent, conflicting information, people on a regular basis, "Jane Cohen, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, told Reuters.

"People must be at least equipped with the necessary information to assess your situation based on real events."

The government tried to appease the concerns of health by launching a test program in Fukushima Prefecture, including 360,000 children up to age 18. Thyroid will be checked every two years until age 20, and thereafter every five years. A total of 2 million people are projected over the next 30 years, but so far, only a fraction of those eligible were tested.

"Our children were using cards glass [to measure the absorption of radiation], but only a few have been examined," said Mitsue Shiga, a teacher in a kindergarten in Watari the Fukushima city suburbs. "We do not let children play outside at all."

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