title: Collaboration of local governments and experts responding to the increase of the environmental radiation level secondary to the nuclear accident: a unique activity to relieve residents' anxiety.
abstract: After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, 'hot spots' were found in Tokatsu area in Chiba prefecture. Although ambient radiation dose in this area was too low to harm residents' health, local residents were particularly worried about possible adverse effects from exposure to radiation. To avoid unnecessary panic reactions in the public, local governments in Tokatsu area collaborated with radiation specialists and conducted activities to provide local residents with accurate information on health effects from radiation. In addition to these activities, the authors offered one-to-one consultations with a radiologist for parents of small children and expecting mothers. They herein report this unique attempt, focusing on parents' anxiety and the age of their children. Taken together, this unique collaborative activity between local government and experts would be one of the procedures to relieve residents' anxiety.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Center, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8577, Japan fujii-rad@umin.org.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iimoto
authors.affiliation: Nagareyama City Office, 1-1-1 Heiwadai, Nagareyama 270-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuzuki
authors.affiliation: Nagareyama City Office, 1-1-1 Heiwadai, Nagareyama 270-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iiizumi
authors.affiliation: Kashiwa City Office, 5-10-1 Kashiwa, Kashiwa 277-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Someya
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Center, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamamichi
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., #556, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000379:methods; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007564:Japan; D009111:Local Government; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011847:Radioactive Fallout / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D011847:Radioactive Fallout