Physical, Mental Toll of Japanese Nuke Plant Meltdown Assessed
TUESDAY, Aug. 14 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-third of
residents of a town near the Japanese nuclear reactor that
underwent meltdown last year showed evidence of exposure to
radioactive cesium six months after the disaster, new research
shows. However, the levels aren't terribly high -- even those
with the highest levels of radiation contamination still had
levels that were lower than what would be treated with Prussian
blue, which is used to remove radioactive materials from the
body. In addition, radiation levels in the Japanese six months
after exposure were much lower than the levels seen in people
exposed to Chernobyl, even seven to 10 years after the Ukraine
nuclear accident, according to the study. "Exposure levels were
low in a majority of tested adults and children, and notably
were much lower than those reported in studies even several
years after the Chernobyl incident," said study author Dr.
Masaharu Tsubokura, of the Institute of