BackWHO assesses cancer risk from Fukushima radiation
The study could have implications for the framing of compensation and nuclear liability laws
Premium(AFP)
New Delhi: The release of radioactive material from the nuclear plant at Fukushima following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011 led to an increased risk of cancer among some of the inhabitants who were exposed, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.
The study could have implications for the framing of compensation and nuclear liability laws.
The Associated Press said experts calculated that people in the most affected regions had an additional 4-7% overall risk of developing cancers including leukaemia and breast cancer. In Japan, men have about a 41% lifetime risk of developing cancer of an organ while a woman’s lifetime risk is about 29%. For those most hit by the radiation after the incident at Fukushima, their chances of cancer would rise by about 1%.
“These are pretty small proportional increases," Richard Wakeford of the University of Manchester, one of the authors of the report, told AP. He added that it would be difficult to attribute even these additional risks to changes in lifestyle or other external factors.
“The primary concern identified in this report is related to specific cancer risks linked to particular locations and demographic factors," Maria Neira, WHO director for public health and environment said in a press statement. “A breakdown of data, based on age, gender and proximity to the nuclear plant, does show a higher cancer risk for those located in the most contaminated parts. Outside these parts -- even in locations inside Fukushima prefecture -- no observable increases in cancer incidence are expected."
In terms of specific cancers for people in the most contaminated location, the estimated increased risks by WHO over what would normally be expected are:
- All solid cancers: around 4% in females exposed as infants
- Beast cancer: around 6% in females exposed as infants;
- Leukaemia: around 7% in males exposed as infants
- Thyroid cancer: up to 70% in females exposed as infants (the normally expected risk of thyroid cancer in females over lifetime is 0.75% and the additional lifetime risk assessed for females exposed as infants in the most affected location is 0.50%).
The almost-200-page document further notes that the radiation doses from the damaged nuclear power plant are not expected to cause an increase in the incidence of miscarriages, stillbirths and other physical and mental conditions that can affect babies born after the accident.
The authors of the study added that the results were based on a preliminary analysis and that because effects such as cancer were likely to surface over several years, the findings could change over many years.
The incident in Fukushima triggered a wave of panic across the globe with several countries--including India--ordering a reassessment of the safety features of their nuclear plants.
Fears of a nuclear accident and cancer are among the key reasons for protests at the upcoming nuclear power plant in Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu and also led to the cancellation of a proposed power plant in West Bengal.
The costs of installing and maintaining safety systems as well as the premiums charged by insurers for financing nuclear power plants are a significant reason why they take a long time to be built and involve heavy capital expenditure.
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