Health effects of radiation and other health problems in the aftermath of nuclear accidents, with an emphasis on Fukushima

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 386; no. 9992; pp. 479 - 488
• Main Authors: Hasegawa, Arifumi, Prof, Tanigawa, Koichi, Prof, Ohtsuru, Akira, Prof, Yabe, Hirooki, Prof, Maeda, Masaharu, Prof, Shigemura, Jun, MD, Ohira, Tetsuya, Prof, Tominaga, Takako, MD, Akashi, Makoto, MD, Hirohashi, Nobuyuki, MD, Ishikawa, Tetsuo, Prof, Kamiya, Kenji, Prof, Shibuya, Kenji, Prof, Yamashita, Shunichi, Prof, Chhem, Rethy K, Prof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Atomic bombs; Cancer; Disasters - statistics & numerical data; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; Health problems; Health risk assessment; Humans; Internal Medicine; International regulations; Japan; Nuclear accidents & safety; Nuclear Power Plants; Nuclear reactors; Nuclear weapons; Public Health; Radiation Injuries - epidemiology; Radiation protection; Radioactive Hazard Release - psychology; Refugees - psychology; Russia; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States; Workers; Fukushima Japan; Japan; Ukraine, Chernobyl; INW, Russia; USA; British Isles; Ukraine
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61106-0

Summary 437 nuclear power plants are in operation at present around the world to meet increasing energy demands. Unfortunately, five major nuclear accidents have occurred in the past—ie, at Kyshtym (Russia [then USSR], 1957), Windscale Piles (UK, 1957), Three Mile Island (USA, 1979), Chernobyl (Ukraine [then USSR], 1986), and Fukushima (Japan, 2011). The effects of these accidents on individuals and societies are diverse and enduring. Accumulated evidence about radiation health effects on atomic bomb survivors and other radiation-exposed people has formed the basis for national and international regulations about radiation protection. However, past experiences suggest that common issues were not necessarily physical health problems directly attributable to radiation exposure, but rather psychological and social effects. Additionally, evacuation and long-term displacement created severe health-care problems for the most vulnerable people, such as hospital inpatients and elderly people.