First recognized cancer after Fukushima

First worker receives compensation for radiation
In Japan, the first case of cancer has been linked to Fukushima. A worker who worked on the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant was diagnosed with cancer. Now, the Japanese government recognizes that the disease is related to the reactor accident.

The Japanese Ministry of Health has long claimed that the health effects of radiation are minimal. Because of this, it was hard for workers with cancer to convince the government that the disease was caused by the Fukushima accident. Nevertheless, until July of this year compensation payments of the equivalent of 56 billion euros have been made to the Japanese workers.

First cancer after Fukushima recognized by the Japanese government. (Image: lassedesignen / fotolia.com)

Worst nuclear accident in 25 years
The disaster forced more than 160,000 people to leave their homes and move out of their homes. An earthquake triggered a tsunami in March 2011. This caused a meltdown at the Fukushima reactor. The accident widened to the worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. The last similar incident took place in 1986 in Chernobyl.

Fukushima has long been recognized as a cause of radiation disease
Hundreds of dead are attributed to the chaos that prevailed during the evacuations in Fukushima. However, so far the government has ruled out radiation as a cause of illness. Refugees have had to live through great distress and mental trauma since the crisis, the news channel BBC reports.

Government handles hospital bills and costs through unemployment
The affected worker is around 30 years old. He was employed by a construction company for which he worked on the Fukushima reactor and other nuclear facilities, the Ministry of Health now officially declared. The worker had a total radiation exposure of 19.8 millisieverts (mSv). Officials explained that from this dose 15,7 (mSv) were recorded between October 2012 and December 2013. This level of irradiation is below the annual 50 mSv limit for workers in the nuclear industry. Nevertheless, the Japanese government has now acknowledged that the leukemia of the worker could be the result of radiation, the official told the news channel "BBC". This recognition of the cause of the illness means that the government is now paying its hospital bills. In addition, all costs associated with his unemployment will be covered. The Japanese Ministry of Health did not want to divulge information about the person's current condition or provide information on its recovery.

It is estimated that removing the molten fuel and cleaning the reactor and its surroundings will cost billions of euros. The process will take decades to complete. (As)