Seminário 5: IPN0020 Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation USP

Jorge, Lucas Cervi, Lucas Rezende, Sérgio H S de Quadros
09-11-2016

Published at: Radiation Protection Dosimetry (2016), Vol. 171, No. 1, pp. 23–26
Authors: N. Takamura, Y. Taira, K. Yoshida, K. Nakashima-Hashiguchi, M. Orita and S. Yamashita
From: Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare; Department of Radiation Medical Sciences; Atomic Bomb Disease Institute at Nagasaki University
Corresponding author: takamura@nagasaki-u.ac.jp

Iodine-131, Cesium-134 and Cesium-137 were released at the initial phase of the accident

Since 15 March 2011 the NU's radiological specialists have served on the medical relief team at FMU: acute radiation syndrome within the framework of the WHO’s Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network REMPAN
On 18 March 2011 NU + FMU supported the communication efforts about the effects of radiation
On 19 March 2011 the Fukushima Prefecture Headquarter for Disaster Control entrusted the authors with spreading correct information on radiation health effects through crisis communication
on 20 and 21 March they conducted crisis communication at public halls in Iwaki and Fukushima City

The accident caused a panic even among the staff at FMU - they intended to leave FMU after the accident
Providing information that clarifies understanding and dispels myths about health effects of radiation through crisis communication is essential during a radiation emergency
2013, they conducted a questionnaire with FMU nurses who experienced the accident at FNPP to identify the factors related to the intention to leave FMU
The village of Kawauchi is located in southwest of FNPP and almost all residents evacuated
75 % of them with the Kawauchi government office had relocated to the city of Koriyama

After crisis the risk communication targeting small groups became more important in Fukushima in each community. They made a serial publication titled ‘Radiation Q&A’ in the local newspaper
Since December 2011 the Japanese Prime Minister declared that FNPP reactors had achieved ‘cold shutdown’
Then NU joined with local authorities has been assisting reconstruction efforts: providing scientific support for reconstruction and for the residents’ return to the village. For instance, by estimating residents’ radiation exposure through measurement of radioactive substances in the soil
On 31 January 2012 the head of the village declared that residents could safely return to their homes and the government office of the village resumed normal services for schools and other public facilities

in May 2012 a public health nurse from NU stayed for an extended period to conduct individual consulting on radiation exposure and health and they tried to identify the determinants that affect the decision to return and promote recovery of the surrounding area of FNPP
They selected 71 residents who had not returned to their hometown and 56 residents who had returned and made Logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors that were independently associated with decisions not to return and showed:

Factors	Odds Ratio	p-value
Being female	2.43	0.03
Living in areas with relatively higher ambient doses	3.60	0.01
Expressing anxiety over radiation exposure	8.91	< 0.01

In April 2013 NU and the Kawauchi government office concluded an agreement concerning comprehensive cooperation towards reconstruction of the village
They established a satellite facility of NU in the village the Nagasaki University/Kawauchi Village Reconstruction Promotion Base
A public health nurse who was trained in the field of radiation nursing is now working at the base to provide health consultation services related with radiation health effects CONFIDENCE
As of April 2013 1400 of 2800 residents(50%) had returned there and others remained evacuated to other cities TRAUMA

Working in close cooperation with the village office, they are ensuring residents’ safety and peace of mind through measurement of radioactive substances in the soil and food
They are also providing health consultation services based on the obtained data
The above texts were taken from the cited article and serve as examples of how to approach a tragedy and contribute to the reconstruction of a community
We - the students of the discipline IPN0020 Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation of the University of São Paulo - thank the authors and the people of Kawauchi Village for the exemplar work