Fukushima Research Needs World's Support

摘要

SERIOUS CONFUSION SURROUNDS THE ACCIDENT AT FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER Plant with regard to the amount of permissible radiation exposure, particularly in children ("Fukushima revives the low-dose debate," D. Normile, News Focus, 20 May, p. 908; "Citizens find radiation far from Fukushima," D. Normile, News & Analysis, 17 June, p. 1368). The primary reason for this confusion is the lack of scientific evidence (7). On 29 April, Osako Toshiso, Cabinet Advisor and a professor at University of Tokyo who specializes in radiation safety, offered a tearful resignation. He claimed that the 20-mSv limit on annual radiation exposure for elementary school playground use set by the government was too high, and recommended that it should be lowered to 1 mSv/year. The government says that these standards are based on those of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (2). These may be suitable for adults, but there is insufficient evidence to argue that the same standards apply to children.