Japan to Distribute Radiation Measuring Devices to Children

Fukushima city in Japan is planning to give radiation measuring devices to 34,000 children to measure their exposure from the crippled nuclear plant about 60kms away. Radiation experts agree that children are at the greatest risk from cancers and genetic defects because they are still growing are more prone to thyroid cancers, and because they will have more time to develop health defects.

The city will hand the "dosimeters" to all children aged between four and 15 for three months from September so that they can wear them around the clock, an official at the city's education board told AFP.

Acute Radiation Syndrome | Acute Radiation Sickness - Symptoms Treatment FAQ
Acute radiation syndrome occurs when a person is exposed to a high dose of external penetrating radiation within a short time.

The city is located outside the government's no-entry zone 20 kilometres (12 miles) around the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, but many residents are concerned about radiation, he said.

"There have been fixed-spot radiation measurements but parents and citizens are concerned about individual exposure," said the official.

"We also believe the distribution of dosimeters will help ease parents' worries if they confirm their children's exposure does not pose health risks."

Thyroid Cancer – Symptoms - Risk Factors - Diagnosis - Treatment - Prevention
“Shaped like a butterfly she sits within the neck,” that’s what an anonymous poet wrote about the thyroid gland but it can become cancerous and spread to other parts.

He added that radiation in the city had been below the official threshold for health risks, and said the children's dosimeters would be read out once a month to assess cumulative radiation exposure.

Since the March 11 disaster, Japan has raised the legal exposure limit for people, including children, from one to 20 millisieverts per year -- matching the safety standard for nuclear industry workers in many countries.

Cancer Prevention thro' Lifestyle Changes
Did u know that simple changes in lifestyle could lower your cancer risks? Find out how!

Environmental activist group Greenpeace called on Japan last Thursday to evacuate children and pregnant women from the town.

It said its people were being exposed to 10 to 20 millisieverts per year through the air, not counting contaminants inhaled or ingested, a level Greenpeace considers unacceptable, especially for high-risk groups.

Exposure to Nuclear Radiation Affects Baby Gender: Study
Nuclear radiation exposure affects baby gender, and leads to an increase in male births relative to female births.

The city of Date, located just outside the nuclear no-go zone, said last Thursday it would distribute radiation dosimeters to all its 8,000 pre-school, elementary and junior high pupils, a news report said.

Source-AFP