Health Effects of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

1st Edition - April 30, 2022
Editors: Kenji Kamiya, Hitoshi Ohto, Masaharu Maeda
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 4 0 9 8 - 4
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 4 0 9 9 - 1

Health Effects of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster provides a multidisciplinary retrospective on the health consequences on the population the first decade after the Fukushima… Read more

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Health Effects of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster provides a multidisciplinary retrospective on the health consequences on the population the first decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Sections 1 and 2 of the book begins with an introduction and an overview of the developments surrounding the Fukushima accident. Section 3 discusses topics such as the physical health impact of radiation exposure as well as diseases that resulted from long-term evacuation. Section 4 examines the psychological　factors and the social impact of the disaster and how their combined influence affected the physical and mental wellness of the population. The book concludes with Section 5 which covers the mitigation strategy for treatment and care of psychological health issues resulting from the disaster. The book contains expert contributions from those who have first-hand experience in the recovery efforts and are still actively researching the impact of the disaster. Health Effects of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster provides readers with a coherent, multi-dimensional narrative about the physical, psychosocial, and psychological aspects of the decade-long aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Cover
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Contributors
Preface
Section I: Development of Fukushima disaster
Chapter 1: Development of Fukushima disaster
Abstract
Accident
Radiation effects
Evacuation in early phase
Fukushima Health Management Survey
Goals of the book
References
Section II: Physical and radiological effects
Chapter 2: Initial turmoil in an emergency setting
Abstracts
Lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
References
Chapter 3: Radiation dose after the disaster
Abstract
Release of radioactive materials into environment
Radiation protection activities in acute phase
Radiation protection activities in the chronic phase
Radiation dose to the public
Summary
References
Chapter 4: Thyroid ultrasound examination program to address health concerns of Fukushima residents after the nuclear accidents
Abstract
Thyroid examination in the Fukushima Health Management Survey
TUE program outline
Informed consent for the TUE program
Mental care support
Regular results of the TUE program (Table 1)
Obvious findings of the TUE program
References
Chapter 5: Trends in pregnancy and birth after the Great East Japan earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in the Fukushima prefecture: A 7-year survey
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Results
Discussion
References
Chapter 6: Lifestyle-related diseases caused by evacuation: Results of the comprehensive health check in the Fukushima health management survey
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
References
Chapter 7: Health effects of atomic bomb radiation in 1945—Epidemiological investigations
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Construction of cohorts, follow-up, and outcomes
Evaluation of exposure
Major results from atomic bomb survivors
Major results from in utero exposed persons
Major results from children of survivors (F1)
Some special aspects of atomic bomb survivor studies
Conclusions
References
Section III: Mental health and psychosocial issues
Chapter 8: Posttraumatic stress responses and related issues: A chronological view
Abstract
Introduction
Chronological changes in mental health status
Discussion
References
Chapter 9: Suicide-related issues among affected people
Abstract
Introduction
General trends in the relationship between disasters and suicide
Suicide trend among residents in evacuation order area
Standardized mortality ratio of suicide in EOA
Disaster-related suicide in Fukushima
Perspective for suicide prevention effort after the triple disaster
Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: Alcohol-related issues among affected people
Abstract
Introduction
Findings from the Fukushima Health Management Survey
Fukushima “Alcohol Project”
Questionnaire and group intervention for public employees and helping professionals
Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: Psychological impact on affected children in Fukushima
Abstract
Introduction
Interviews
Complex evacuation
Reputational damage and discrimination: Support by a homogeneous group
Newly revealed problems
Conclusions
References
Chapter 12: Disaster-related health issues among older adults
Abstract
Introduction
Actual conditions and support for older adults in the Fukushima nuclear disaster
Summary
References
Chapter 13: Psychosocial support for anxiety related to thyroid cancer: A team approach during the secondary confirmatory examination in thyroid ultrasound examination
Abstract
Introduction
Roles of thyroid support team
Details of thyroid support
Frequently asked questions during the secondary confirmatory examination
Recent considerations and tasks of psychosocial support during TUE
References
Chapter 14: Radiation risk perception after the Fukushima disaster
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Radiation risk perception: Survey/questionnaire items and changing perceptions after the Fukushima disaster
Radiation-risk perception: Factors and effects post-Fukushima
Perspectives of radiation risk perception studies
References
Chapter 15: Influence of different media, producing stigma
Abstract
The rise of the Internet and SNS
Dissemination of incorrect news
Adherence to misconceptions about heredity and radiation bullying
Changes in the way information is received and given over time
Future measures
References
Chapter 16: Crises and resilience among local communities
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Community disruption and resilience after disasters
Health promotion activities for reconstruction in Iwaki City
Summary
References
Chapter 17: A comparative study of psychological reactions of the former Soviet Union, Scandinavia, and Fukushima people to nuclear disasters
Abstract
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Comparative studies of the people’s reaction
Analysis of people’s psychological reactions
Conclusion
References
Section IV: Long-term support
Chapter 18: A mother’s work is to worry: Accepting maternal concerns during a health crisis
Abstract
Background
Decline and recovery of pregnancy intention
Maternal depression and confidence
Listening to concerns
Facing another health crisis
Conclusion
References
Chapter 19: Telephone support
Abstract
Introduction
Structure
Results
Discussions
Conclusion
References
Chapter 20: The recovery process of the community in Kawauchi Village after the nuclear disaster
Abstract
Evacuation, return and recovery process of Kawauchi Village
Establishment of a Nagasaki University satellite office and risk communication
Evaluation of environmental radioactivity in Kawauchi Village
Food monitoring system and mushroom map project in Kawauchi
Conclusion
References
Chapter 21: Posttraumatic responses among outpatients in disaster area: Case reports
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and methods
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Index

Kenji Kamiya

Dr. Kamiya graduated from Hiroshima University School of Medicine in 1977, where he also completed a PhD in Experimental Pathology in 1986. From 1982 to 1987, he held a research appointment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After joining Hiroshima University’s Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, he worked to advance radiation biology, radiation carcinogenesis, and radiation emergency medicine. In 1996, he became a Professor at Hiroshima University, and served as Director of the Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine from 2001 to 2005 and 2009 to 2013. He has served as Director of the Radiation Emergency Medicine Promotion Center since 2004 and Vice President of Hiroshima University since 2013. Following Fukushima’s 2011 nuclear accident, he was appointed as a Vice President of Fukushima Medical University, while serving concurrently as a radiation health risk management advisor to the Fukushima Prefectural Government, as well as working as an advisor to the Cabinet Secretariat’s Advisory Group on Nuclear Disasters. In 2016, he became Director of the Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey at Fukushima Medical University. In 2009, he received the Asian Association of Radiation Research Award, and was awarded the Prime Minister’s Commendation to Contributors for Disaster Prevention in 2012. In 2020, he received the Japanese Radiation Research Society’s JRRS Outstanding Contribution Award, among other awards. He served as President of the Japanese Radiation Research Society (2008-2011), Secretary General of the 15th Annual International Congress on Radiation Research (ICRR2015), and as a member of the Science Council of Japan and a chairman of the board for The Nuclear Regulation Authority’s Radiation Council.

Affiliations and expertise

Vice President, Hiroshima University (HU) and Fukushima Medical University (FMU), Japan

Hitoshi Ohto

Professor Emeritus Ohto is General Vice President of Fukushima Medical University (FMU). He graduated from FMU (MD) in 1977 and finished PhD thesis of medicine in 1984 at the University of Tokyo. His research focuses chiefly on fetomaternal micro-transfusion and its consequences to mother and child, including transmission of pathogens and alloimmune responses. He has studied mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis viruses, and infantile and maternal microchimerism during and after pregnancy. He has contributed to world-wide transfusion safety initiatives, especially the prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, which is uniformly fatal, by introducing universal irradiation of cellular transfusion components at FMU in 1989, first in the world. He guest edited a collection of articles with the theme “Disasters and Transfusion” in an international journal. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international top journals. He is currently serving in the Fukushima Health Management Survey as General Vice Director.

Affiliations and expertise

General Vice President, Fukushima Medical University (FMU), Fukushima, Japan

Masaharu Maeda

Professor Maeda is Professor and Chair of the Department of Disaster Psychiatry at the Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine in Fukushima, Japan. Professor Maeda received his medical degree at Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan, and completed his residency training in psychiatry at Kurume University Hospital. He later returned to his alma mater in 1996 as Associate Professor, before assuming his current roles. Professor Maeda served as President of Japanese Society of Traumatic Stress Studies from 2009 to 2013. He has been actively involved in providing psychiatric examinations and organizing psychiatric intervention teams for survivors of several major disasters that have occurred in Japan, particularly man-made disasters. Professor Maeda’s current clinical and research interests lie in the widespread psychosocial effects resulting from the Fukushima nuclear accident. As Assistant Manager of the Fukushima Center for Disaster Mental Health, he is leading the Mental Health and Life Style Survey to facilitate the adequate care of resident who are at risk of developing mental health problems following the complicated nuclear accident.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor and Chair, Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University (FMU), School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan