Fukushima mothers worried about cancer risk
- 11 years ago
At this kindergarten in Fukushima, Japan, the playground is monitored by a radiation detection device. It's been two years since a massive earthquake and tsunami killed 19-thousand people and damaged a nearby nuclear plant.
Local health authorities are monitoring every child for thyroid abnormalities, but for mothers like Makiko Suzuki-- it's not enough.
(Soundbite) (Japanese) Mother, Makiko Suzuki, saying:
"I want to get another opinion, but it's difficult. Thyroid specialists are really rare. I'd have to travel really far to find a decent doctor who knows all about thyroid cancer."
A new World Health Organization report finds females exposed as infants in the most contaminated area could have a 70-percent higher risk of developing thyroid cancer. But the report concludes the overall cancer risk is low, even in the most affected areas.
Japanese scientists are trying to calm worried mothers, but admit that more research is needed.
(Soundbite) (J
Local health authorities are monitoring every child for thyroid abnormalities, but for mothers like Makiko Suzuki-- it's not enough.
(Soundbite) (Japanese) Mother, Makiko Suzuki, saying:
"I want to get another opinion, but it's difficult. Thyroid specialists are really rare. I'd have to travel really far to find a decent doctor who knows all about thyroid cancer."
A new World Health Organization report finds females exposed as infants in the most contaminated area could have a 70-percent higher risk of developing thyroid cancer. But the report concludes the overall cancer risk is low, even in the most affected areas.
Japanese scientists are trying to calm worried mothers, but admit that more research is needed.
(Soundbite) (J