title: Absence of internal radiation contamination by radioactive cesium among children affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster.
abstract: Chronic internal radiation contamination accounts for a substantial fraction of long-term cumulative radiation exposure among residents in radiation-contaminated areas. However, little information is available on ongoing chronic internal radiation contamination among residents near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Using a whole body counter, internal radiation contamination levels among elementary and middle school students who commute to 22 schools located within Minamisoma city were assessed between May and July 2013 (26 to 28 mo after the disaster). Of 3,299 elementary and middle school students in the city, 3,255 individuals (98%) were screened through school health check-ups. Not a single student was detected with internal radiation contamination due to radioactive cesium. The study found no risk of chronic internal radiation exposure among residents near the crippled nuclear power plant. Current food inspection by local governments, volunteers, and farmers has been functioning well within Fukushima prefecture. However, food management by screening suspected contamination along with whole body counter screening are key public health interventions and should be continued to avoid further internal radiation exposure in radiation-contaminated areas.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Social Communication System for Advanced Clinical Research, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; †Department of Radiation Protection, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Minamisoma, Fukushima, Japan; ‡Department of Radiation Protection, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan; §Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom; **Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of public health and policy, London school of hygiene and tropical medicine, London, United Kingdom; and ††Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsubokura
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kami
authors.forename: Tomoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
chemical_list: D002588:Cesium Radioisotopes