Message for the residents of Fukushima Prefecture

Message for the residents of Fukushima Prefecture

February 4, 2022
Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey
Fukushima Medical University

We would like to express our sincere thanks to your continuous understanding and cooperation to the activity of Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey.

Almost 11 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. Along with everyone’s efforts to rebuild our prefecture, the understanding and cooperation of Fukushima’s people have allowed us to monitor the health and make efforts to improve the wellbeing of residents through the Fukushima Health Management Survey. The latest information and scientific findings from the Survey will also be presented in our next International Symposium on March 5, 2022.

Former Prime Ministers recently sent a letter to the President of the European Commission. The Japanese Minister of Environment and the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture have expressed their opinions regarding part of the letter. We concur that prevention of misunderstanding and prejudice following the nuclear accident is an extremely important matter.

The Fukushima Health Management Survey’s Oversight Committee has expressed its view that no relationship can be identified between radiation exposure from the nuclear accident and subsequent detection of thyroid cancer, based on data through July 2019. Additionally, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) has also concluded that an increase in the incidence of cancers, including thyroid cancers, or an increase in heritable disease among the descendants is unlikely to be discernible (UNSCEAR 2013 Report, 2020 Report).

The Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey will continue to monitor the health of Fukushima residents through the Survey, deal constructively with possible misunderstandings about and prejudice toward Fukushima Prefecture through our communication of scientific findings, and hope to contribute to the health and wellbeing of Fukushima residents.