bought and took potassium iodide (KI) to protect themselves. For example, following the Fukushima radiation emergency, there were reports that some people on the West Coast of the U.S. Although dangerous radiation and contamination did not spread beyond Japan and there were no deaths from direct radiation exposure, the widespread concerns showed the need for increased radiation emergency awareness and preparedness across the globe.įor other countries, including the U.S., myths and misperceptions caused worry and uncertainty among people, leading some to take “anti-radiation” marketed products that were inappropriate and potentially harmful. The world watched anxiously in the weeks following the tsunami to see whether the radioactive contamination would spread and affect other nations and territories.
Children showed more issues with hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, and conduct problems. 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. Lack of access to health care in the temporary location likely was a key contributor to these effects. The World Health Organization and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation ( Bulletin of the World Health Organization\ (who.int), The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2020/2021 Report to the General Assembly ) 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. Nearby residents had to be immediately evacuated and many were permanently relocated, resulting in significant mental and physical harm to many of them. But the disaster had a tragic secondary impact on people living in the area. Strikingly, no one died from radiation exposure following the incident. Public Health Effects Not from Radiation Exposure Evacuation orders for the people living in the area changed and expanded. 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. As with most emergencies, the situation continued to evolve.
The flooding led to widespread damage of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which released radiological contamination. 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 Combination of a Natural and Industrial Disaster Displaced people after Fukushima nuclear power plant emergency in 2011.
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