» UN report says Fukushima disaster unlikely to rise cancer rate

2014/04/02

U.N. scientist said on April 2nd that the Fukushima nuclear disaster is unlikely to lead to a rise in people developing cancer as happened after Chernobyl in 1986, even though the most exposed children may face an increased risk.

In a major study, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) said it did not expect “significant changes” in future cancer rates that could be attributed to radiation exposure from the reactor meltdowns.

The amounts of radioactive substances such as iodine-131 released after the 2011 accident were much lower than after Chernobyl, and Japanese government also took action to protect people living near the stricken plant, including evacuations.

However, some children — estimated at fewer than 1,000 — might have received doses that could affect their risk of developing thyroid cancer later in life, UNSCEAR said, while emphasizing the probability of that happening was still low.
The UNSCARE report can be found here
http://www.unscear.org/unscear/en/fukushima.html
<Media Report>
Fukushima-linked cancer surge unlikely: U.N. (Japan Times)

U.N. report finds no increase in Fukushima cancer rates (Asahi Newspaper)

IPPNW Germany criticizes the UNSCARE report

Tags:children, health, health risk, news, outside experts

• Evacuation orders lifted in 3 municipalities today, one more tomorrow

• Court issues injunction to halt Takahama nuclear reactors

• Anti-nuclear group of India submitted a letter to the Japanese Government to oppose Japan-India nuclear agreement

• World Nuclear Victims Forum in Hiroshima closed with “Hiroshima Declaration”