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http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/news/20110802p2g00m0fe093000c.html
Fukushima people seek science savvy on skepticism of government
FUKUSHIMA (Kyodo) -- A radioactivity measurement station set up in the city of Fukushima by a civic group draws people who are skeptical about government data related to the nuclear plant crisis and keen to quickly know if food products they have are safe.
The station in the city, some 50 kilometers from the crippled
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, offers a German measuring machine as part of projects ongoing in Fukushima aimed at helping people get scientific information of their own.
Takenori Chiba, a machinery company employee from Miharu, around 40 km from the plant, brought 500 grams of potatoes and 500 grams of onions to the station asking the staff to test them for radioactivity level.
"I cannot sit around waiting for the government or the municipal authority to do something for us. I wanted to act on my own," Chiba, 37, said. "The station is very helpful because even though I was concerned about the contamination around my house I didn't know what to do."
After an hour, Chiba was told that his vegetables measured 32 and 28 becquerels per kilogram, respectively, well below the government-set limit of 500 becquerels per kg.
Chiba refrained from immediately evaluating the figures but said, "I'm glad I could get access to the data and for free of charge."
An 11-member group led by Tokyo chiropractic therapist Aya Marumori launched the station in mid-July as they thought the claim by the government that "the current radioactivity levels do not pose immediate risks on human health" seemed unconvincing.
Marumori, 44, head of the Citizens' Radioactivity Measuring
Station and the mother of a 9-year-old boy, said, "Rather than using our time waiting and protesting against the government, we need to measure radioactivity by ourselves and take actions based on our judgments."
She said the group, which includes citizens of Fukushima, aims to become an independent third-party organization such as the Commission for Independent Research and Information about Radiation in France, which helped the group open it by providing equipment and expertise.
Marumori became involved in the project of opening the measuring station as she found there was little consensus even among scientists over the effect of low-dose radiation on human health while she was studying the potential risks of radiation in the wake of the nuclear crisis.
Shunichi Yamashita, a leading researcher on the effects of radiation fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl accident, was among academics at the center of the scientific dispute.
Yamashita was appointed as a health risk adviser to Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato after the March 11 tsunami and earthquake crippled the plant.
Yamashita, now vice president of Fukushima Medical University, said low doses of radiation equal to below 100 millisieverts per year pose no immediate threat to human health. But some other experts on radiation say that even small amounts of radiation pose risks in the form of internal radiation exposure.
"When Mr. Yamashita came to Fukushima as an adviser, people saw him as a savior as they were confused and worried due to a lack of information," said Seiichi Nakate, head of a Fukushima-based group to protect children from radiation.
"Mr. Yamashita said there's no need to worry and you can let your children play outside as before," Nakate said.
But as the possible risk of radiation level, even below the 100 millisievert mark, became known to the public, many began to doubt Yamashita's position. Six groups, including Nakate's, urged Yamashita to step down as the health risk adviser.
Meanwhile, another group is working on helping people in
Fukushima who have difficulties accessing the Internet to gain access to information about radiation risks and possible evacuation other than that provided by authorities.
"All the information that comes from the government is, 'It is safe.' But there are needs for other information such as on how to minimize radiation contamination and where to evacuate. I wanted to help them get access to them," said Hiroshi Ueki of the group.
Ueki and other group members published a newspaper on information about how to minimize radiation contamination and distributed 100,000 copies of the first edition at 35 sites in Fukushima and Niigata prefectures including Fukushima, Koriyama and Date, and the town of Nihonmatsu as they have logged relatively high radiation levels.
Ueki, 40, who has sons aged 2 and 4 said, "I've also heard of a case where an argument over whether to evacuate has led to a divorce. I hope the newspaper will be one opportunity to bond the Fukushima people back together."
The station in the city, some 50 kilometers from the crippled
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, offers a German measuring machine as part of projects ongoing in Fukushima aimed at helping people get scientific information of their own.
Takenori Chiba, a machinery company employee from Miharu, around 40 km from the plant, brought 500 grams of potatoes and 500 grams of onions to the station asking the staff to test them for radioactivity level.
"I cannot sit around waiting for the government or the municipal authority to do something for us. I wanted to act on my own," Chiba, 37, said. "The station is very helpful because even though I was concerned about the contamination around my house I didn't know what to do."
After an hour, Chiba was told that his vegetables measured 32 and 28 becquerels per kilogram, respectively, well below the government-set limit of 500 becquerels per kg.
Chiba refrained from immediately evaluating the figures but said, "I'm glad I could get access to the data and for free of charge."
An 11-member group led by Tokyo chiropractic therapist Aya Marumori launched the station in mid-July as they thought the claim by the government that "the current radioactivity levels do not pose immediate risks on human health" seemed unconvincing.
Marumori, 44, head of the Citizens' Radioactivity Measuring
Station and the mother of a 9-year-old boy, said, "Rather than using our time waiting and protesting against the government, we need to measure radioactivity by ourselves and take actions based on our judgments."
She said the group, which includes citizens of Fukushima, aims to become an independent third-party organization such as the Commission for Independent Research and Information about Radiation in France, which helped the group open it by providing equipment and expertise.
Marumori became involved in the project of opening the measuring station as she found there was little consensus even among scientists over the effect of low-dose radiation on human health while she was studying the potential risks of radiation in the wake of the nuclear crisis.
Shunichi Yamashita, a leading researcher on the effects of radiation fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl accident, was among academics at the center of the scientific dispute.
Yamashita was appointed as a health risk adviser to Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato after the March 11 tsunami and earthquake crippled the plant.
Yamashita, now vice president of Fukushima Medical University, said low doses of radiation equal to below 100 millisieverts per year pose no immediate threat to human health. But some other experts on radiation say that even small amounts of radiation pose risks in the form of internal radiation exposure.
"When Mr. Yamashita came to Fukushima as an adviser, people saw him as a savior as they were confused and worried due to a lack of information," said Seiichi Nakate, head of a Fukushima-based group to protect children from radiation.
"Mr. Yamashita said there's no need to worry and you can let your children play outside as before," Nakate said.
But as the possible risk of radiation level, even below the 100 millisievert mark, became known to the public, many began to doubt Yamashita's position. Six groups, including Nakate's, urged Yamashita to step down as the health risk adviser.
Meanwhile, another group is working on helping people in
Fukushima who have difficulties accessing the Internet to gain access to information about radiation risks and possible evacuation other than that provided by authorities.
"All the information that comes from the government is, 'It is safe.' But there are needs for other information such as on how to minimize radiation contamination and where to evacuate. I wanted to help them get access to them," said Hiroshi Ueki of the group.
Ueki and other group members published a newspaper on information about how to minimize radiation contamination and distributed 100,000 copies of the first edition at 35 sites in Fukushima and Niigata prefectures including Fukushima, Koriyama and Date, and the town of Nihonmatsu as they have logged relatively high radiation levels.
Ueki, 40, who has sons aged 2 and 4 said, "I've also heard of a case where an argument over whether to evacuate has led to a divorce. I hope the newspaper will be one opportunity to bond the Fukushima people back together."
(Mainichi Japan) August 2, 2011
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