Usefulness of the Whole-body Counter for Infants and Small Children (BABYSCAN) As a Risk Communication Tool After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Incident

Overview

Journal Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2020 Feb 11

PMID 32037370

Citations 3

Authors

Masaharu Tsubokura

Yuko Nabeshima

Michio Murakami

Tsuyoshi Nemoto

Toshiyuki Kambe

Saori Nonaka

Yuki Shimada

Yurie Kobashi

Akihiko Ozaki

Tomoyoshi Oikawa

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Responding to the radiation-related concerns of parents/guardians with infants/small children is an important public health issue for regional recovery after radioactive contamination. This study summarizes the results of a systematic internal contamination screening of infants/small children, aged 0-6 years, using BABYSCAN and individual counselling sessions with physicians about radiation concerns from 2014 to 2018 in Minamisoma City. Of 3,114 participants, no one was found to have internal contamination with radioactive caesium with a detection limit of 50 Bq/body. The questionnaire survey showed a decreasing trend of concerns about food contamination and playing outside as possible causes of internal contamination over time. Because people's concerns were diverse in counselling sessions, individual responses are required. This study showed that examinations using BABYSCAN provide an opportunity for direct dialogue between the parents/guardians of infants/small children and experts. This can be considered a model case for risk communication conducted by the local government after a radioactive contamination incident.

Citing Articles

Feasibility study of an intervention program to enhance self-confidence of kindergarten teachers who deal with radiation-related health concerns from parents with young children.

Moriyama N, Nakayama C, Watanabe K, Kuga T, Yasumura S Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2022; 8(1):25.

PMID: 35115043 PMC: 8812038. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-00993-6.

Absence of Detectable Radionuclides in Breast Milk in Sendai, Japan in 2012 Even by High-Sensitivity Determination: Estimated Dose among Infants after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.

Lyu Z, Soleman S, Fujitani T, Fujii Y, Mahmoud M, Harada K Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(11).

PMID: 34071601 PMC: 8198812. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115825.

Development and Evaluation of a Gatekeeper Training Program Regarding Anxiety about Radiation Health Effects Following a Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Single-Arm Intervention Pilot Trial.

Orui M, Fukasawa M, Horikoshi N, Suzuki Y, Kawakami N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(12).

PMID: 32604809 PMC: 7344952. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124594.

References

Hamada N, Fujimichi Y . Classification of radiation effects for dose limitation purposes: history, current situation and future prospects. J Radiat Res. 2014; 55(4):629-40. PMC: 4100010. DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rru019. View

Takebayashi Y, Lyamzina Y, Suzuki Y, Murakami M . Risk Perception and Anxiety Regarding Radiation after the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Systematic Qualitative Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14(11). PMC: 5707945. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14111306. View

Shimura T, Yamaguchi I, Terada H, Svendsen E, Kunugita N . Public health activities for mitigation of radiation exposures and risk communication challenges after the Fukushima nuclear accident. J Radiat Res. 2015; 56(3):422-9. PMC: 4426935. DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrv013. View

Nomura S, Tsubokura M, Murakami M, Ono K, Nishikawa Y, Oikawa T . Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: Representativeness of the Monitoring Results in Fukushima, Japan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14(6). PMC: 5486342. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14060656. View

Orita M, Hayashida N, Nakayama Y, Shinkawa T, Urata H, Fukushima Y . Bipolarization of Risk Perception about the Health Effects of Radiation in Residents after the Accident at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. PLoS One. 2015; 10(6):e0129227. PMC: 4461282. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129227. View

Murakami M, Sato A, Matsui S, Goto A, Kumagai A, Tsubokura M . Communicating With Residents About Risks Following the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2017; 29(2_suppl):74S-89S. DOI: 10.1177/1010539516681841. View

Hayano R, Tsubokura M, Miyazaki M, Ozaki A, Shimada Y, Kambe T . Whole-body counter surveys of over 2700 babies and small children in and around Fukushima Prefecture 33 to 49 months after the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2015; 91(8):440-6. PMC: 4729858. DOI: 10.2183/pjab.91.440. View

Sugimoto A, Nomura S, Tsubokura M, Matsumura T, Muto K, Sato M . The relationship between media consumption and health-related anxieties after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. PLoS One. 2013; 8(8):e65331. PMC: 3743804. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065331. View

Tsubokura M, Gilmour S, Takahashi K, Oikawa T, Kanazawa Y . Internal radiation exposure after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. JAMA. 2012; 308(7):669-70. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2012.9839. View

10.

Nomura S, Tsubokura M, Ozaki A, Murakami M, Hodgson S, Blangiardo M . Towards a Long-Term Strategy for Voluntary-Based Internal Radiation Contamination Monitoring: A Population-Level Analysis of Monitoring Prevalence and Factors Associated with Monitoring Participation Behavior in Fukushima, Japan. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14(4). PMC: 5409598. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14040397. View

11.

. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP publication 103. Ann ICRP. 2007; 37(2-4):1-332. DOI: 10.1016/j.icrp.2007.10.003. View

12.

Paulson J . Pediatric Considerations Before, During, and After Radiological or Nuclear Emergencies. Pediatrics. 2018; 142(6). DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-3000. View

13.

Yamamoto K, Nomura S, Tsubokura M, Murakami M, Ozaki A, Leppold C . Internal exposure risk due to radiocesium and the consuming behaviour of local foodstuffs among pregnant women in Minamisoma City near the Fukushima nuclear power plant: a retrospective observational study. BMJ Open. 2019; 9(7):e023654. PMC: 6615778. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023654. View

14.

Mazrani W, McHugh K, Marsden P . The radiation burden of radiological investigations. Arch Dis Child. 2007; 92(12):1127-31. PMC: 2066089. DOI: 10.1136/adc.2006.101782. View

15.

Lochard J, Bogdevitch I, Gallego E, Hedemann-Jensen P, McEwan A, Nisbet A . ICRP Publication 111 - Application of the Commission's recommendations to the protection of people living in long-term contaminated areas after a nuclear accident or a radiation emergency. Ann ICRP. 2010; 39(3):1-4, 7-62. DOI: 10.1016/j.icrp.2009.09.008. View

16.

Tsubokura M, Kato S, Nomura S, Morita T, Sugimoto A, Gilmour S . Absence of internal radiation contamination by radioactive cesium among children affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster. Health Phys. 2014; 108(1):39-43. DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000000167. View

17.

Oughton D . Societal and ethical aspects of the Fukushima accident. Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2016; 12(4):651-3. DOI: 10.1002/ieam.1831. View

18.

Adams R, Guey L, Gluzman S, Bromet E . Psychological well-being and risk perceptions of mothers in Kyiv, Ukraine, 19 years after the Chornobyl disaster. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2011; 57(6):637-45. DOI: 10.1177/0020764011415204. View

19.

Sawano T, Nishikawa Y, Ozaki A, Leppold C, Tsubokura M . The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident and school bullying of affected children and adolescents: the need for continuous radiation education. J Radiat Res. 2018; 59(3):381-384. PMC: 5967459. DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rry025. View

20.

Takamura N, Taira Y, Yoshida K, Nakashima-Hashiguchi K, Orita M, Yamashita S . Communicating Radiation Risk to the Population of Fukushima. Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2016; 171(1):23-6. DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncw184. View