Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data

Introduction: The nuclear accidents at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant released more than 10 EBq (exabecquerel) of the radionuclides into the atmosphere. A primary health concern after the nuclear accident is the internal exposure of children to radioactive iodines, which are known to accumula...

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Main Authors: Suminori Akiba, Athira Nandakumar, Kenta Higuchi, Mayumi Tsuji, Futoshi Uwatoko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
Series:Journal of Radiation and Cancer Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalrcr.org/article.asp?issn=0973-0168;year=2017;volume=8;issue=4;spage=174;epage=179;aulast=Akiba
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author Suminori Akiba
Athira Nandakumar
Kenta Higuchi
Mayumi Tsuji
Futoshi Uwatoko
author_facet Suminori Akiba
Athira Nandakumar
Kenta Higuchi
Mayumi Tsuji
Futoshi Uwatoko
author_sort Suminori Akiba
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The nuclear accidents at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant released more than 10 EBq (exabecquerel) of the radionuclides into the atmosphere. A primary health concern after the nuclear accident is the internal exposure of children to radioactive iodines, which are known to accumulate in the thyroid, and to cause neoplasm. Fortunately, studies conducted so far have shown that the thyroid doses from internal exposure to 131I were low, and therefore, any excess risk of thyroid cancer among residents is considered unlikely to be detected in the future. Data and Analysis: Approximately half a year after the accident, the Fukushima Health Management Survey was started. It includes the thyroid screening survey using ultrasonography and a program to estimate the individual radiation dose of residents and evacuees. Results and Discussions: The first-round thyroid survey, which was conducted during the period 2011–2013, covered 300,476 young residents, approximately 82% of residents eligible for the survey, and found thyroid nodules in 3990 examinees. The prevalence of nodules in the evacuation zone was similar to that in the nonevacuation zone. The second-round survey, which was conducted during the period 3–6 years after the accident, detected 3788 participants with thyroid nodules among 270,511 examinees (approximately 71% of eligible residents). The prevalence of thyroid nodules in the evacuation zone was significantly higher than that in the rest of area (relative risk = 1.32; 95% confidence interval = 1.19, 1.45). Conclusion: Further studies are necessary to evaluate the scientific significance of present findings.
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spelling doaj.art-bf57452a25514f2aa6d08a946525e0b22022-12-21T22:09:11ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Radiation and Cancer Research2588-92732468-92032017-01-018417417910.4103/jrcr.jrcr_42_17Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official dataSuminori AkibaAthira NandakumarKenta HiguchiMayumi TsujiFutoshi UwatokoIntroduction: The nuclear accidents at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant released more than 10 EBq (exabecquerel) of the radionuclides into the atmosphere. A primary health concern after the nuclear accident is the internal exposure of children to radioactive iodines, which are known to accumulate in the thyroid, and to cause neoplasm. Fortunately, studies conducted so far have shown that the thyroid doses from internal exposure to 131I were low, and therefore, any excess risk of thyroid cancer among residents is considered unlikely to be detected in the future. Data and Analysis: Approximately half a year after the accident, the Fukushima Health Management Survey was started. It includes the thyroid screening survey using ultrasonography and a program to estimate the individual radiation dose of residents and evacuees. Results and Discussions: The first-round thyroid survey, which was conducted during the period 2011–2013, covered 300,476 young residents, approximately 82% of residents eligible for the survey, and found thyroid nodules in 3990 examinees. The prevalence of nodules in the evacuation zone was similar to that in the nonevacuation zone. The second-round survey, which was conducted during the period 3–6 years after the accident, detected 3788 participants with thyroid nodules among 270,511 examinees (approximately 71% of eligible residents). The prevalence of thyroid nodules in the evacuation zone was significantly higher than that in the rest of area (relative risk = 1.32; 95% confidence interval = 1.19, 1.45). Conclusion: Further studies are necessary to evaluate the scientific significance of present findings.http://www.journalrcr.org/article.asp?issn=0973-0168;year=2017;volume=8;issue=4;spage=174;epage=179;aulast=AkibaAccidentFukushimanodulesnuclearthyroid
spellingShingle Suminori Akiba
Athira Nandakumar
Kenta Higuchi
Mayumi Tsuji
Futoshi Uwatoko
Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data
Journal of Radiation and Cancer Research
Accident
Fukushima
nodules
nuclear
thyroid
title Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data
title_full Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data
title_fullStr Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data
title_full_unstemmed Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data
title_short Thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident: Results of preliminary analysis using the official data
title_sort thyroid nodule prevalence among young residents in the evacuation area after fukushima daiichi nuclear accident results of preliminary analysis using the official data
topic Accident
Fukushima
nodules
nuclear
thyroid
url http://www.journalrcr.org/article.asp?issn=0973-0168;year=2017;volume=8;issue=4;spage=174;epage=179;aulast=Akiba
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AT athiranandakumar thyroidnoduleprevalenceamongyoungresidentsintheevacuationareaafterfukushimadaiichinuclearaccidentresultsofpreliminaryanalysisusingtheofficialdata
AT kentahiguchi thyroidnoduleprevalenceamongyoungresidentsintheevacuationareaafterfukushimadaiichinuclearaccidentresultsofpreliminaryanalysisusingtheofficialdata
AT mayumitsuji thyroidnoduleprevalenceamongyoungresidentsintheevacuationareaafterfukushimadaiichinuclearaccidentresultsofpreliminaryanalysisusingtheofficialdata
AT futoshiuwatoko thyroidnoduleprevalenceamongyoungresidentsintheevacuationareaafterfukushimadaiichinuclearaccidentresultsofpreliminaryanalysisusingtheofficialdata