Radiation leakage from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan has increased the risk of thyroid cancer for people living in vicinity of the crippled plant, but no rise in cases is anticipated elsewhere, the WHO said on Thursday.
Experts estimated risks in the general population in Fukushima Prefecture, the rest of Japan and the rest of the world, plus the power plant and emergency workers that may have been exposed during the emergency phase response.
The World Health Organization (WHO) report “Health Risk Assessment from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami based on preliminary dose estimation” estimated risk for specific cancers in certain subsets of the population in Fukushima Prefecture has increased.
And, as such, the report calls for long term continued monitoring and health screening for those people WHO said.
“The primary concern identified in this report is related to specific cancer risks linked to particular locations and demographic factors,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health and Environment.
“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,” Neira said in a statement.
In terms of specific cancers, for people in the most contaminated location, the estimated increased risks over what would normally be expected are: all solid cancers — around 4 per cent in females exposed as infants.
The estimated risk for breast cancer stood at around 6 per cent in females exposed as infants, leukaemia — around 7 per cent in males exposed as infants, thyroid cancer — up to 70 per cent in females exposed as infants, the report said.
The normally expected risk of thyroid cancer in females over lifetime is 0.75 per cent and the additional lifetime risk assessed for females exposed as infants in the most affected location is 0.50 per cent.
“The WHO report underlines the need for long-term health monitoring of those who are at high risk, along with the provision of necessary medical follow-up and support services,” said Neira.
However, a comprehensive assessment by international experts on the health risks associated with the disaster concluded that, for the general population inside and outside of Japan, the predicted risks are low and no observable increases in cancer rates above baseline rates are anticipated.