Fukushima Radiation Emergency

"March 11 is the anniversary of Japan’s Fukushima radiation emergency. Learn more about radiation and radiation emergencies to help you know what to do if another disaster occurs.

March 11 marks the anniversary of Japan’s 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor disaster. The Fukushima disaster highlighted two important themes for the future of preventing and preparing for nuclear power plant accidents:

• Natural disasters can test the limits of manmade protections of nuclear plants.
• Many effects of a radiation emergency on public health are not caused by radiation exposures or radioactive contamination.

The Combination of a Natural and Industrial Disaster

On that date in 2011, a 9-magnitude earthquake led to a 40-foot tsunami that overcame the 19-foot seawall built to protect the plant. The flooding led to widespread damage of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which released radiological contamination. As with most emergencies, the situation continued to evolve. During the days that followed the tsunami, the damage to the reactors increased, causing more radiation to be released in the air and water that surrounded the power plant. Evacuation orders for the people living in the area changed and expanded.

Public Health Effects Not from Radiation Exposure

Strikingly, no one died from radiation exposure following the incident. But the disaster had a tragic secondary impact on people living in the area. Nearby residents had to be immediately evacuated and many were permanently relocated, resulting in significant mental and physical harm to many of them. The World Health Organization and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (Bulletin of the World Health Organization (who.int) pdf icon[PDF – 1.25 MB]external icon, The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2020/2021 Report to the General Assemblyexternal icon) described a sharp increase in deaths among elderly people who were put in temporary housing, as well as increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Lack of access to health care in the temporary location likely was a key contributor to these effects. The loss of social connections and family ties, and stigmatization of people from the Fukushima area, led to increased mental health issues and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the people who were evacuated after the incident. Children showed more issues with hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, and conduct problems..."
Fukushima