For information only- not an official document

UN radiation experts respond to people’s concerns in Fukushima
VIENNA, 24 February 2016 -- “Farmers in Iwaki are concerned that theiroffspring will abandon the family because they are worried about continued
external exposure”. “I am a schoolteacher and when we were evacuated, we weretaken along a route which was later determined to have exposed us. Do thechildren in my class need to be worried? What should I tell their parents?”“Parents continue to drive the children left in the prefecture to school instead ofletting them take the 20 minute walk, because of fears of exposure. Is driving
safer than walking?”
These and a host of other such questions were fielded by the Secretary of the UN
Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) Malcolm
Crick, and experts Mikhail Balonov (Russia) and Gillian Hirth (Australia) at aseries of events held in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, earlier in February.
The team met with audiences of professionals drawn from medicine, academia,education and other fields to hear their concerns and answer their questions inIwaki City (9 Feb) and Minamisoma City (10 Feb). They also shared the main
findings of the 2013 UNSCEAR Report titled "Levels and Effects of Radiation
Exposure due to the nuclear accident after the 2011 great east-Japan earthquake
and tsunami" and the follow up 2015 White Paper.
“This was a triple tragedy – the earthquake, the tsunami and then the accident at
the nuclear power plant. While UNSCEAR cannot comment on policy issues, it
can provide information that can help the community better understand theeffects and risks of exposure,” said Mr. Crick.
From the active question and answers sessions in both cities, it was evident that
almost five years down the line, there are still many concerns about radiation
exposure. From grappling with the immediate aftermath of the incident,
concerns have shifted to those of a more practical, yet poignant nature. Apartfrom concerns related to thyroid cancer among children, questions covered arange of topics from external exposure, to exposure along evacuation routes,
whether local food was safe for consumption and more.
Expert Mikhail Balonov shared his wealth of experience from the Chernobyl
accident, while Gillian Hirth spoke on environmental issues.
“It is well known that some children residing in the areas most affected by theChernobyl accident contracted thyroid cancer because of high internal doses
during the first month. No other adverse health effect caused by radiation wasnoted over the next three decades and no such effects should be expected inJapan either,” said Mr. Balonov. The levels of exposure in Chernobyl were 10 to
100 times higher than at Fukushima.

“For me, the experience of first-hand discussion with the people of the cities ofIwaki and Minamisoma reinforced the importance of a continued dialogue withthe affected communities ,” added Ms. Hirth. “Also, I feel these dialogues assistedme, as a scientist, to understand what we can provide to support the ongoingrecovery from this tragedy.”
UNSCEAR had previously held similar events in Fukushima City and Koriyama
City in September 2014. Among other things, the 2013 Report had concluded
that, overall, it expected cancer rates to remain stable, and commented on atheoretical small increased risk of thyroid cancer among most exposed children.
***For further information, contact:
Jaya Mohan
Communications, UNSCEAR
Tel: +43 1 26060-4122
Email: jaya.mohan[at]unscear.org