Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster Research Articles

Prevalence, incidence, and recovery of metabolic syndrome after the fukushima nuclear power plant disaster: A 10-year longitudinal study

After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome sharply increased in municipalities near the nuclear power plant, where a massive evacuation of community residents occurred (the evacuation area). However, after the initial increase, the rate of increase in metabolic syndrome in the evacuation area was slower than that in the surrounding area (non-evacuation area). In this study, we compared the incidence of and recovery from metabolic syndrome as well as its prevalence between evacuation and non-evacuation areas during the 10 years after the accident to explore whether the slower increase in metabolic syndrome after the initial increase in the evacuation area stemmed from suppressed incidence or from fast recovery. We analyzed specific health check-up data of community residents aged 40–74 in Fukushima Prefecture from fiscal year (FY) 2012 to FY 2021 (N = 710,201). To explore the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, we examined the associations of time, residential area, and their interaction with metabolic syndrome using mixed-model repeated measures. We used data from those without metabolic syndrome in FY 2012 to investigate the incidence. We similarly examined the associations of time, residential area, and their interaction with metabolic syndrome using FY 2013 to FY 2021 data. To explore recovery, we used the data of those with metabolic syndrome in FY 2012 and repeated the same procedure. The rate of increase in the prevalence and incidence of metabolic syndrome was slower in the evacuation area than in the non-evacuation area. On the other hand, as for the recovery, the time trend of metabolic syndrome did not differ between the two areas. The slower increase in metabolic syndrome in the evacuation area was partly explained by the slower incidence in the evacuation area but not by recovery.

Social networks and posttraumatic stress symptoms five to ten years after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster

Since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, multiple social network disruptions have been reported among the community in Fukushima, while posttraumatic stress symptoms among the residents have persisted. In this study, we aimed to explore the influence of time and social networks on the recovery of posttraumatic stress symptoms based on longitudinal data from community residents in Fukushima, following up five to ten years after the nuclear power plant accident. We conducted five questionnaire surveys quasi-annually, the targets of which were randomly sampled 4900 non-evacuee community residents. In this study, the data of 1809 respondents who participated in at least one survey were used (36.9% of the initial target). Setting posttraumatic stress symptoms as the outcome, we examined the interaction between time and social network size using a mixed model, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and disaster-related events. Their interaction was statistically significant, and the posttraumatic stress symptoms of those with small social networks persisted, while those with larger social networks recovered. Maintaining and promoting social networks may contribute to mental health recovery after a nuclear disaster.

Longitudinal effects of disaster-related experiences on problem drinking among Fukushima nuclear plant workers.

In the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster of March 11, 2011, plant workers were exposed to various traumatic events and reported a subsequent increase in alcohol use. To determine the relationship between disaster-related experiences and problem drinking, we conducted a three-year follow-up study. Problem drinking among the nuclear plant workers was assessed annually from 2012-2014 using a modified version of the CAGE questionnaire that asked about current, rather than lifetime, drinking. A total of 1378 workers provided at least one CAGE response, and 2875 observations were used in the present analysis. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between disaster-related experiences and problem drinking over time. The prevalence of problem drinking (CAGE score ≥2) increased over time. At the baseline assessment in 2012, a year after the disaster, plant workers who had experienced life-threatening danger and discrimination had significantly more symptoms of problem drinking, which persisted over the following 2 years. Although at baseline, plant workers who had experienced major property loss or the death of a colleague showed no significant differences in problem drinking symptoms from those without such experiences, over the next 2 years their problem drinking increased significantly. Individuals who experienced life-threatening danger and discrimination during the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster reported an increase in problem drinking. Although major property loss and the death of a colleague did not elevate problem drinking prevalence at baseline, it did so over the next 2 years. Different adverse effects of a natural disaster appear to differentially increase drinking behavior over time.

Against an insufficient intervention for patients with alcoholism or PTSD: An activity report on a psychiatric clinic after the 2011 complex disaster in Fukushima, Japan

Despite numerous studies using questionnaires to assess mental health problems among disaster victims following a disaster, only a few have examined actual medical treatment situations. Surveys of residents in disaster-affected areas following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster also indicate deteriorated mental health among survivors; however, concrete evidence of increased individuals seeking treatment at psychiatric institutions is still scarce.Using medical records of a psychiatric clinic in an affected area during the chronic phase after a disaster, this study investigated the status of interventions for patients with alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and others, including whether violence occurred during treatment.We found that 730 patients visited the clinic for a year, but a few with alcoholism received treatment. Patients who experienced traumatic stress during the disaster had a higher treatment discontinuation rate, though it is not correlated with their involvement in violence. However, a diagnosis of complex PTSD was correlated with involvement in violence during the treatment.The psychiatric clinic providing care during the chronic phase of the post-disaster period did not provide sufficient treatment for alcoholism, where therapeutic interpersonal interaction is emphasized, or for PTSD, where trauma-focused psychotherapy is the standard of care. It is difficult to ensure the availability of highly specialized resources and the establishment of comprehensive ties with the local people in affected areas, however, such a situation poses a challenge.

Investigating the effect of spray system on the containment condition of VVER1000/V446 NPP during LBLOCA and TLOFW accidents

The containment system serves as the last barrier against the release of fission products. However, over pressurization or hydrogen detonation can compromise its effectiveness, as evidenced by the Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) disaster. This study describes the efficacy of the spray system in reducingcontainment pressure andtemperature, as well as,itsimpacton hydrogen mitigation during large break loss of coolant accident (LBLOCA) and total loss of feed water (TLOFW) accident in the VVER-1000/V446NPP. The evaluation is conductedusing theMELCOR 1.8.6code.The results of the LBLOCA analysis demonstrate that the spray system significantly reduces the pressure and temperature of the containment. It also enhances hydrogen mitigation by increasing the amount of recombined hydrogen by around 4% and reducing the onset time of hydrogen recombination by 90,000 s. In the TLOFW accident scenario, the spray system is effective in reducing the containment pressure from 0.41 MPa to 0.27 MPa. The investigation of hydrogen behavior in the reactor containment atmosphere reveals that the simultaneous operation of the spray and the hydrogen recombiner systems is the most effective strategy for hydrogen mitigation. However, activating the spray system without the passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs) function can lead to an increase in the hydrogen mole fraction in all containment compartments, thereby increasing the likelihood of hydrogen combustion.

Continuous positive airway pressure alleviates insomnia in workers sleeping near other workers with sleep apnea after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster

ObjectivesTo examine the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure for improving the sleep of all individuals residing in a temporary shelter. MethodsWorkers at a nuclear power plant using a gymnasium as temporary shelter were divided into two groups: 15 workers with obstructive sleep apnea received continuous positive airway pressure treatment, and 107 workers without obstructive sleep apnea received no treatment. We assessed subjective sleepiness among the workers with obstructive sleep apnea before and after continuous positive airway pressure treatment, and evaluated insomnia in all workers before and after workers with obstructive sleep apnea were given continuous positive airway pressure treatment. ResultsWorkers who received continuous positive airway pressure treatment reported significantly improved subjective sleepiness, but did not experience a significant change in insomnia symptoms. However, workers without obstructive sleep apnea reported significant improvements in their insomnia symptoms following the treatment of workers with obstructive sleep apnea. ConclusionsUsing continuous positive airway pressure to treat workers with obstructive sleep apnea residing in temporary shelters may help prevent adverse health consequences from insomnia among other individuals sleeping nearby.

Worry about Radiation and Its Risk Factors Five to Ten Years after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster.

Worry about radiation persists long after nuclear power plant accidents. Young age, low socioeconomic status, being married, and disaster-related experiences are known to be associated with greater worry about radiation. This study explored the duration of the effects of these risk factors on worry about radiation after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, using the longitudinal data of randomly sampled non-evacuee community residents who were followed five to ten years after the accident. Questionnaire surveys were conducted five times with 1825 respondents (37.2% of the 4900 initial targets). We examined the interaction of time and risk factors of worry about radiation using a mixed model. Fear or anxiety immediately after the accident had effects on worry about radiation that continued even after 10 years, though it slightly attenuated with time. Family problems stemming from the disaster retained their effects. While direct damage and evacuation experience were significantly associated with worry about radiation in the early phase, their effects diminished and became non-significant during the study period. Being under the age of 65, having low educational attainment, and being married were significantly associated with worry about radiation, although the association with age weakened over time. Individuals who experience intense fear or anxiety post-nuclear power plant accidents or disaster-related family problems may need continuous monitoring for their worry about radiation even 10 years after such accidents.

Relationship between the Mental Health and Living Conditions of Evacuees Post the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster : Based on Shinsai Shien Network Saitama’s (SSN) 2018 Survey

Relationship between the Mental Health and Living Conditions of Evacuees Post the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster : Based on Shinsai Shien Network Saitama’s (SSN) 2018 Survey

Hyperspectral assessment of soil fertility in farm fields in Fukushima decontaminated after the radioactive fallout

ABSTRACT Farmland in the Fukushima region of Japan experienced unprecedented radioactive contamination as a result of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011. Many fields (4,950 ha; over 30,000 fields to date) have been decontaminated by replacing the top surface soil with non-contaminated soil. However, the fertility of these fields is quite low and within-field heterogeneity is marked. Accordingly, appropriate management of soil and fertilizer is required for recovery of crop productivity in these decontaminated fields. Remote sensing can play a critical role in rapid spatial assessment of soil fertility. This preliminary study investigated the potential of spectral sensing approaches based on hyperspectral reflectance measurements (400–2500 nm) of soil samples from a decontaminated paddy field in the Fukushima region. Spectral index algorithms (the ratio spectral index [RSI] and normalized difference spectral index [NDSI]) and multivariate regression methods (partial least-squares regression [PLSR] and interval PLSR [iPLSR]) were used to identify accurate, robust predictive models. The iPLSR and PLSR showed higher predictive accuracy than the other methods (r2 val = 0.937 and 0.802, respectively). The best spectral indices explored using RSI and NDSI have good potential for assessing the spatial variability of soil carbon content (SC; r2 val = 0.730 ~ 0.844), despite using only two wavebands. The results from the RSI map (or NDSI map) approach provided useful information for creating optimal algorithms for assessing SC values using various sensors, including high-resolution optical satellite sensors. Although we must note that optimal algorithms and their applicability are often site-specific depending on soil type and surface conditions, our results imply that these spectral sensing methods can contribute to the recovery of soil fertility of decontaminated fields in the Fukushima region through careful calibration/validation procedures with sufficient in situ data.

Environmental Issue of Coal Ash Imported From Japan after Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster: A Case Review in South Korea

Since many countries were reluctant to dispose of waste with hazardous substances in their territories to protect their own country, they relied on exporting the waste to underdeveloped or developing countries in an easy way to solve this problem...

Knowledge and risk perception of radiation for Japanese nursing students after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster

BackgroundThe Japanese have had three experiences of radiation disasters: the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, and the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster. The former two experiences have been covered in compulsory education programs. In light of these incidents, a strong fear of radiation has pervaded people of several generations. In such a situation, the role of nurses is important. When nurses treat residents, their attitudes change depending on how they understand and feel about radiation. The foundations of these attitudes are formed through student education. Hence, it is necessary to explore nursing students' understanding and risk perception of radiation, and the nature of radiation education received. ObjectivesTo assess the levels of understanding and risk perception of nursing students regarding radiation. DesignCross-sectional survey. MethodsA questionnaire survey was administered to all students (74 first-year, 79 second-year, 65 third-year, and 69 fourth-year students) in the nursing department of a Japanese national university. The response rate was 84%. Respondents were asked to rate their level of understanding of 50 phrases chosen from two supplementary texts about radiation for elementary school students and for middle and high school students, prepared by the Japanese Ministry. Further, they were asked to rate their risk perception for 30 events, and to answer six questions about radiation. ResultsIt was found that knowledge about radiation among Japanese nursing students was poor, because sufficient radiation education had not been provided. Hence, they displayed a greater fear of X-rays as compared to American students and members of the League of Woman Voters. However, it was also found that an increase in understanding might decrease risk perception. ConclusionsIt was concluded that nursing students require adequate education about radiation, in order to reduce their fear of X-rays and to mitigate their risk perception.

Long-lasting effects of distrust in government and science on mental health eight years after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster.

We aimed to explore the effects of erosion of trust in authorities on the long-term mental health of community residents after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan. We investigated the effects of distrust in authorities on mental health in a cohort study following non-evacuee community residents after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. A baseline questionnaire survey was administered five years after the accident for a random sample of 4900 residents outside the evacuation zone in Fukushima. Distrust in the national government and in science were assessed using a four-point single-item scale. Psychological distress was measured using the K6. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were measured using an abbreviated version of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Specific version. Longitudinal associations of distrust in the government and science at baseline and psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms eight years after the accident were examined, controlling for the baseline level of distress or symptoms using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Valid responses were obtained from 927 (18.9%) residents. Distrust in the government at baseline was significantly associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms at follow-up, albeit controlling for baseline symptoms. While distrust in the government was also associated with psychological distress at follow-up, the association became non-significant after controlling for baseline distress. Distrust in science at baseline was not associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms or psychological distress at follow-up. Distrust in government after a nuclear power plant accident may have adverse effects on mental health in the long-term.

Obituary for Professor Hideyuki Nakane

If I were him, I would have hesitated to become a psychiatrist. I would have because it is too easy to imagine how much conflict and pressure I would have had to bear as the son of a renowned psychiatrist in pursuing the same path. His father, Professor Emeritus Yoshibumi Nakane, is a distinguished researcher known for his outstanding achievements in the field of social psychiatry, and Hideyuki not only took on his father's research interests but made them his own specialty as well. He was already a lecturer at Nagasaki University when I arrived here as a professor in 2003. I was planning on treating him with certain “considerations” and courtesy as the son of the department's former professor. He, however, was just so gentle and genuine with an excellent character, as his given name so aptly expresses, that people said that his character made people respect his father even more. There may have been some who had unfounded suspicions of him just because of his position, but his devotion to research was unshakable, which was highly recognized at the WHO headquarters where he studied. Later on, he was promoted to associate professor at the Department of Psychiatry, helping me a great deal with a range of matters from teaching to human resources. I recommended him for professorship at the School of Health Sciences, solely on the basis of his character and work, both of which had been well received. He contributed to developing collaboration with the Red Cross in South Korea to help atomic-bomb survivors outside Japan. Thanks to that, Kyung Hee University and our university still exchange psychiatric residents to this day. Also, he was on the board of trustees of the Japanese Society of Gender Identity Disorder, and helped establish a multi-disciplinary liaison system for conducting conferences prior to introducing patients to treatment. In addition he was involved in the launch of a palliative care team at Nagasaki University Hospital, brought awareness to international studies on suicide prevention, and recently was working on field research at Kawauchi Village in Fukushima Prefecture to investigate the psychological impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster. By building up a long list of achievements, he was able to become the kind of clinician/researcher who could be trusted in these deceiving and transitory times. Hideyuki never complained about anything and was a quiet and strong person. He even attended a faculty meeting just before he passed away, battling the disease. I recall one episode when Hideyuki showed me an unexpected side of himself. There was a time when I was addicted to cooking with a Dutch oven. One day I made cabbage soup. I made it for my seminar students by stewing a whole cabbage with plenty of meat and spices. Perhaps drawn by the pleasant smell, Hideyuki wandered into the kitchen and asked if he could have some. “Sure,” I said, but I was a little surprised that Mr. Hideyuki, always so reserved, would take the trouble to ask for the same soup as the students. And there's one more episode to share with you. He had a low, calm voice, which is a great attribute for a psychiatrist to have, and he used that beautiful voice to his advantage at karaoke, where he would accept the honor of closing with the Japanese song ‘Scorpion Woman,’ just as everyone expected. While parting is never easy especially when it comes this prematurely, if I were to ask one question to him, I would ask him, “Did you do what you wanted to, to your heart's content?” I would have liked to have seen more of him just being himself, free and easy, as he did when he asked for soup, or as he did when he so enthusiastically sang ‘Scorpion Woman.’ The world is full of uncertainty right now, and I wish I could talk to him about our university, our department, psychiatry, and many other things. We will meet again in heaven, and when we do, let's have a bowl of cabbage soup together. Until then, it's time to say goodbye. Rest in peace, Hideyuki.

Minimizing Isolation of the Elderly Following the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster.

Minimizing Isolation of the Elderly Following the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster.

Factors relating to anxiety among medical teams dispatched to the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster

At the time of the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, medical teams and radiation experts were solicited from all over Japan by the Japanese government to go to Fukushima Prefecture. While several reports on the incident and its management have been published, there have been no reports on the causes of anxiety felt by the volunteers or problems foreseen by organizations that declined to send volunteers. To identify the factors contributing to the anxiety levels of the dispatched personnel and to understand the difficulties faced while dispatching volunteers to the affected area, two different questionnaires were sent out to the recruited volunteers and recruiting organizations. Among the professionals sent to Fukushima Prefecture, we found that previous knowledge of radiation emergency or disaster medicine was inversely proportional to their anxiety levels (p < 0.001). Factors giving rise to apprehension depended on the professional's occupation (p = 0.042). Possessing and sharing radiological information among team members helped alleviate anxiety once the professionals entered the hazardous area. It is thus desirable to establish systematic plans with guidelines for proactive education and training for each kind of professional and policies regarding the dispatch of volunteered professionals to alleviate anxiety levels prior to dispatch.

The reasons of people keep the exterior of farmland in the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster area

The reasons of people keep the exterior of farmland in the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster area

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors in Female Students in Fukushima Four Years after the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster.

Young women in their late teens and early 20s are at the highest risk for depression onset. The present study aimed to assess depressive symptoms among female college students in Fukushima. More specifically, it aimed to clarify factors predicting possible symptom profiles, with an emphasis on determining how nuclear radiation risks affect the reporting of depression symptoms. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 310 female students at a college in the Fukushima prefecture, Japan, in December 2015, and 288 participants submitted valid questionnaires. In total, 222 (77.1%) participants lived in Fukushima at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The measures included the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index, the Fukushima Future Parents Attitude Measure, and risk perception of radiation health effects. A total of 46.5% of participants reported depressive symptoms. Path analysis revealed that higher radiation risk perceptions and reduced efficacy with reproduction related to a decline in self-esteem and self-efficacy, which was subsequently associated with increased depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of radiation education among children and young adults, both after a nuclear accident and during disaster preparation, particularly in the context of reproductive and mental health.

Visual Representations of Radiation Risk and the Question of Public (Mis-)Trust in Post-Fukushima Japan

In the aftermath of the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, an estimated 150,000 residents of Fukushima Prefecture were displaced because of both real and perceived risks of radioactive contamination. While previous research has provided ample insight into the causes and effects of the disaster, there is a lack of analysis of the production of visual representations of radiation risk. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring the question of what different cartographic representations of the types and levels of radioactive radiation are available; what information is released and how people get informed; how certain areas are considered ‘safe’; and how arbitrarily government organizations draw and remove spatial boundaries of ‘safe areas’. Due to the particular concern of children, who have a comparatively low-threshold radiation tolerance, the focus is on child care facilities and elementary schools. The article identifies different sources of public mistrust in the context of information seeking and sharing and addresses this issue as part of the larger question of institutionalized information processes in Japan. This also includes a prudent assessment of the increasing importance of citizen science in Japan, a society of traditionally technocratic, paternalistic, top-down approaches to public policy making. The paper concludes that because of the growing mistrust of the general public in Japan’s elites, civic engagement should focus on gaining more influence on the political discourse, agenda-setting and collaborative planning and policy.

Fukushima Mothers' Concerns and Associated Factors After the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster.

This study aimed to clarify the frequency of and temporal changes in the content of mothers' free written opinions obtained in the Fukushima Health Management Survey Pregnancy and Birth Survey from 2011 to 2013. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to women who delivered babies in Fukushima Prefecture. The questionnaire asked about maternal and child health. Expression of mothers' concerns about radiation decreased over time. Common to the top 5 codes across the 3 years were "radiation effect on fetus and infant" and "information provision including survey results." Participants who wrote free opinions were significantly more likely to be aged ≥30 years and to have depressive symptoms. Our descriptive analysis of the qualitative data showed a clear shift in mothers' concerns from radiation-related issues to their own physical and mental health. Mothers who expressed concerns were more likely to report negative physical and mental health.

Relationships between Individual Social Capital and Mental Health in Elderly People who Left the Prefecture Due to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

Relationships between Individual Social Capital and Mental Health in Elderly People who Left the Prefecture Due to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster