2. Introduction
Following Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power
plant accident, a large amount of radiation was
released. Here is a opinion about radiation
exposures and effects on human health on the
accident.
3. Is All Radiation Harmful?
There are two types of radiation: non-ionizing and
ionizing.
Non-ionizing radiation: If it is very intense, it
can heat up tissues. Otherwise, it does not have
significant effects. It is not believed to cause
cancer.
Ionizing radiation: It is much more dangerous
because it does break chemical bonds and thus
does cause cancer.
4. What Happens When Someone is
Exposed to Ionizing Radiation?
First stage(Slight exposure): Nausea and
fatigue, then vomiting. After that comes hair loss
and diarrhea
Second stage(Heavy exposure): Destruction of
the intestinal lining and worse diarrhea and
dehydration, then central nervous system damage.
After that comes loss of consciousness and,
inevitably, death.
5. Radiation Released from Nuclear Plants
and One from Nuclear Bomb
Nuclear bomb: It produces two types of radiation
that have lethal effects. The blast itself produces
X-rays and gamma rays.
Nuclear plant: Fukushima is not emitting gamma
or X-irradiation. Most of the radioactivity is in the
form of radiocesium and radioiodine, which are
byproducts of the fission of uranium in the fuel
rods.
6. How much Exposure is Enough to Make
Someone Sick?
The biological risk of exposure to radiation is
measured in sieverts(Sv).
500,000 μSv/h: Nausea and fatigue within hours.
750,000 μSv/h: Hair loss within two or three
weeks,
1 million μSv/h: Hemorrhage.
4 million μSv/h: Death
7. How much Radiation Have People in
Japan been Exposed to? How risky is it?
Radiation levels are more higher near Fukushima
nuclear power plant. However, radiation levels in
Tokyo have been 10 times normal, which is still
very low.
8. Conclusion
Fukushima nuclear power plant accident is
serious. However, the accident is not the same as
Chernobyl's at all. Although, after the accident,
bad health consequence of human would not
appear soon, Japan have to work on a health
problem over the long term.
