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Late-onset effects of exposure to ionising radiation on the human body have been identified by long-term, large-scale epidemiological studies. The cohort study of Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (the Life Span Study) is thought to be the most reliable source of information about these health effects because of the size of the cohort, the exposure of a general population of both sexes and all ages, and the wide range of individually assessed doses. For this reason, the Life Span Study has become fundamental to risk assessment in the radiation protection system of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and other authorities. Radiation exposure increases the risk of cancer throughout life, so continued follow-up of survivors is essential. Overall, survivors have a clear radiation-related excess risk of cancer, and people exposed as children have a higher risk of radiation-induced cancer than those exposed at older ages. At high doses, and possibly at low doses, radiation might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and some other non-cancer diseases. Hereditary effects in the children of atomic bomb survivors have not been detected. The dose–response relation for cancer at low doses is assumed, for purposes of radiological protection, to be linear without a threshold, but has not been shown definitively. This outstanding issue is not only a problem when dealing appropriately with potential health effects of nuclear accidents, such as at Fukushima and Chernobyl, but is of growing concern in occupational and medical exposure. Therefore, the appropriate dose–response relation for effects of low doses of radiation needs to be established.

Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in March 2011, the Japanese government implemented extensive decontamination and waste management measures, including the establishment of an interim storage facility in Okuma and Futaba. This study aims to analyze residents’ trust in the information provided by the public authorities regarding this facility and to identify factors influencing that trust. A survey was conducted among 1,558 former residents of Tomioka, Okuma, and Futaba who were 18 years or older and held resident cards for one of these towns in both March 2011 and 2024. The questionnaire collected data on demographic variables; intention to return; thoughts on the storage facility; trust in public information; concerns about radiation-related genetic risks and negative perceptions due to the nuclear accident; and mental health status, assessed using the mental component of the SF-8 health survey. The results showed that 57.7% of respondents trusted the information provided by the public authorities regarding the storage facility. Factors significantly associated with trust included their acceptance of the facility, lack of concerns about radiation-related genetic risks, lack of concerns about negative images resulting from the nuclear accident, and good mental health status. A logistic regression analysis indicated that acceptance of the facility and good mental health significantly increased the likelihood of trusting information provided by the public authorities, while concerns about genetic risks and negative images significantly decreased it. These findings underscore the vital importance of recognizing and addressing residents’ concerns about health risks and negative perceptions related to nuclear waste management. By supporting the mental well-being of the community and fostering transparent communication, authorities can build trust and improve the acceptance of waste management facilities. Actively engaging with residents and responding to their worries facilitates the identification of adequate and acceptable recovery efforts after a nuclear accident.

Past nuclear disasters, such as the atomic bombings in 1945 and major accidents at nuclear power plants, have highlighted similarities in potential public health effects of radiation in both circumstances, including health issues unrelated to radiation exposure. Although the rarity of nuclear disasters limits opportunities to undertake rigorous research of evidence-based interventions and strategies, identification of lessons learned and development of an effective plan to protect the public, minimise negative effects, and protect emergency workers from exposure to high-dose radiation is important. Additionally, research is needed to help decision makers to avoid premature deaths among patients already in hospitals and other vulnerable groups during evacuation. Since nuclear disasters can affect hundreds of thousands of people, a substantial number of people are at risk of physical and mental harm in each disaster. During the recovery period after a nuclear disaster, physicians might need to screen for psychological burdens and provide general physical and mental health care for many affected residents who might experience long-term displacement. Reliable communication of personalised risks has emerged as a challenge for health-care professionals beyond the need to explain radiation protection. To overcome difficulties of risk communication and provide decision aids to protect workers, vulnerable people, and residents after a nuclear disaster, physicians should receive training in nuclear disaster response. This training should include evidence-based interventions, support decisions to balance potential harms and benefits, and take account of scientific uncertainty in provision of community health care. An open and joint learning process is essential to prepare for, and minimise the effects of, future nuclear disasters.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011 released large amounts of artificial radioactive substances into the environment. In this study, we measured the concentration of radiocesium ( 134 Cs +  137 Cs) in 213 muscle samples from wild boars ( Sus scrofa ) captured in Tomioka town, which is located within 20 km of the FDNPP. The results showed that 210 (98.6%) muscle samples still exceeded the regulatory radiocesium limit (100 Bq/kg) for general foods. Radiocesium ( 134 Cs +  137 Cs) levels ranged from 87.1–8,120 Bq/kg fresh mass (FM), with a median concentration of 450 Bq/kg FM. The median committed effective dose was estimated to be 0.070–0.26 μSv/day for females and 0.062–0.30 μSv/day for males. The committed effective dose for one-time ingestion of wild boar meat could be considered extremely low for residents in Tomioka. The relatively high levels of radioactivity found in this study suggest that the high variability of food sources may have led to the large accumulation of radioactive substances. These results suggest that comprehensive long-term monitoring is needed to identify risk factors affecting recovery from a nuclear disaster.

Iodine thyroid blocking (ITB) is effective for preventing childhood thyroid cancer when radioactive iodine is released into the environment during a nuclear power plant accident. Japan employs the pre-distribution of stable iodine (PDSI) to residents living near nuclear power plants; however, the number of residents who have actually received stable iodine to date remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of guardians of children living around the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant (GNPP) in Japan. We distributed self-administered questionnaires regarding perception of risks associated with administration of stable iodide to approximated 400 guardians of children aged 0–6 in 10 kindergartens located in four municipalities. We obtained responses from 286 guardians, and after excluding invalid responses, 247 were included in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that living within 5 km of the GNPP (odds ratio [OR] = 4.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.43–8.24), awareness of preferential implementation of ITB to children (OR = 3.33, 95%CI: 1.78–6.22), and awareness of the prophylaxis booklet published by the local government (OR = 2.53, 95%CI: 1.37–4.68) were independently associated with PDSI for children. The main reasons for not receiving PDSI were “anxiety about the side effects of stable iodine” (40.2%), “distrust of the effectiveness of SI” (23.5%), “complicated procedures for receiving stable iodine” (15.7%) and “missed the date for receiving stable iodine” (8.8%). In the case of ITB implementation during a nuclear emergency, it is necessary to clarify the risk perceptions of guardians and adapt risk communication accordingly.

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident of March 11, 2011, the Japanese government implemented a soil decontamination program as part of disaster area recovery. This resulted in approximately 14 million cubic meters of contaminated soil being stored in an interim facility in Fukushima. Management of the soil has included radioactivity measurement, separation and screening. When recycled the soil may be used in public works projects, but the public objected to soil recycling demonstration projects planned for the Tokyo metropolitan area, and the use of recycled soil in their communities. This study seeks to understand key factors associated with the public’s desire for more information about soil recycling. We conducted a nationwide survey and received 5257 responses from people between the ages of 18 and 89 living in the country’s 47 prefectures and eight geographic regions. The results showed that approximately 60% of residents did not want recycled soil to be relocated near where they live. A large number (75.9%, n = 3991) of respondents had never received information on radiation and its health effects, while 66.1% (3473) of respondents wanted more information about recycled soil. Those who wanted more information about soil recycling prioritized learning of its health effects, effects on food and water, environmental effects, radioactivity levels and monitoring methods, and intergenerational health effects. A binary logistic regression analysis clarified several independent factors related to wanting more information, including interest in the recovery of the area surrounding the FDNPP, receipt of information on radiation and its health effects, and the belief that the FDNPP accident will result in intergenerational health effects. The study results provide a greater understanding of the public’s information needs and can help to improve communication and understanding related to this controversial topic.

With the growing elderly population who are susceptible to poor health, improvement of their quality of life is essential. In the post-disaster setting of the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident, affected municipalities such as Okuma town commenced their recovery processes and lifted evacuation orders in 2019. This study examines the differences in self-reported mental and physical health status, social functioning, risk perception, and intention to return between elderly (age ≥65 years) and non-elderly (age 20–64 years) residents. Questionnaires were distributed to current residents and evacuees of Okuma. Results revealed that the elderly had a 1.4 times higher odds ratio (95%CI 1.0–1.8, p = 0.034) for having anxiety regarding radiation-related health effects on future generations and a 1.3 times higher odds ratio (95%CI 1.1–1.5, p = 0.001) for wanting to know about the release of FDNPP-treated water into the environment than the younger group. Elderly residents also demonstrated a 2.2 times higher odds ratio for reporting poor physical health than younger residents. Clearing misconceptions and disseminating coherent information will reduce risk perception among this group. Further in-depth research regarding the disposal of FDNPP-treated water and its perceived risks is required. Health promotion through the encouragement of social participation, improvement of surroundings to facilitate healthy behaviors, and enhanced access to health services will improve the quality of life of elderly Okuma residents.

Purpose This study evaluates the impact of the 2021 revision of Japan’s Ordinance on the Prevention of Ionizing Radiation Hazards on radiation protection practices, focusing on the deployment of radiation protection devices and the involvement of radiology technologists in Japanese hospitals. Methods A two-phase web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among hospitals registered as training facilities with the Japanese Radiological Society. The survey included 53 questions covering facility information, radiation worker management, training, and working environment. Results The use of lens-specific dosimeters significantly increased post-revision ( p  = 0.005). Protective eyewear availability showed minor improvements, particularly in angiographic rooms ( p  = 0.019). The involvement of radiology technologists remained high in angiographic rooms but showed no significant changes in endoscopy and fluoroscopy rooms. Larger hospitals exhibited better compliance with protective measures, though gaps in resource allocation persisted. Conclusion The ordinance revision led to significant improvements in dosimeter usage but only minor changes in protective eyewear deployment and technologist involvement.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the occupational radiation exposure of medical workers between general hospitals and university hospitals.MethodsRadiation exposure data from three hospitals in Hiroshima city, including one university hospital and two general hospitals, were collected using personal dosimeters. Monthly radiation doses were analyzed, and the annual sum of radiation exposure dose was calculated for 538 subjects in general hospitals and 1224 subjects in the university hospital. To assess the impact of locality, additional data from Nagasaki University Hospital and Fukushima Medical University Hospital were included for comparative analysis. Professional affiliations, such as doctors, nurses, and radiological technologists, were considered in the evaluation.ResultsThe study revealed slight but significant differences in radiation doses between general and university hospitals. In general hospitals, except for radiological technologists, a slightly higher radiation dose was observed compared to university hospitals. Despite the annual increase in the use of medical radiation, the majority of hospital workers in both settings adhered to safety guidelines, with occupational radiation exposure remaining below the limit of detection (LOD). Workers who involved in fluoroscopic procedure, whether at university or general hospitals, had higher radiation doses than those who did not.ConclusionThe study's primary conclusion is that workers in general hospitals experience a slight but significantly higher radiation dose and a lower percentage below the LOD compared to university hospitals. The observed difference is attributed to the greater workload at general hospitals than at university hospitals, and also may be due to the different nature of university hospital and general hospital. University hospitals, characterized by greater academic orientation, tend to benefit from comprehensive support systems, specialized expertise, and advanced technology, leading to more structured and regulated radiation control. These findings provide a basis for targeted interventions, improved safety protocols.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, radionuclides such as iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-137 were released into environment. In this study, we collected wild mushrooms from the Kawauchi Village of Fukushima Prefecture, located less than 30 km southwest of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, to evaluate their radiocesium (134Cs+137Cs) concentrations and the risk of internal radiation exposure in local residents. 342 mushroom samples were collected from 2016 to 2019. All samples were analysed for radiocesium content by a high-purity germanium detector. Among 342 mushroom samples, 260 mushroom samples (76%) were detected the radiocesium exceeding the regulatory limit of radiocesium (100 Bq/kg for general foods in Japan). The median of committed effective dose from ingestion of wild mushrooms was in the range of 0.015-0.053 mSv in 2016, 0.0025-0.0087 mSv in 2017, 0.029-0.110 mSv in 2018 and 0.011-0.036 mSv in 2019 based on the assumption that Japanese citizens consumed wild mushrooms for 1 year. Thus, our study showed that although radiocesium is still detected in mushrooms collected in Kawauchi village even after 5 to 9 years later, the committed effective dose due to consuming mushrooms was lower than 1 mSv per year. Long-term comprehensive follow-up should monitor radiocesium concentrations in wild mushrooms to support the recovery of the community after the nuclear disaster.