Monday, March 4, 2013

Fukushima: Psychological vs. Health Effects


The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan’s coast and nuclear power plant two years ago has had long-lasting effects. Though the risk of developing cancer as a result of the explosion of the nuclear power plant has risen slightly for people who live in the area, the psychological effects have been much greater. The stigma associated to the people who once lived near the Fukushima power plant, currently a “ghost town,” may have severe psychological results. The disaster itself has caused anxiety, depression, and fear in many of those who were involved. Although the exposure to radiation has not greatly increased the former-residents’ chances of developing cancer, it has caused mutations in local butterflies and  cesium levels in fish to be 250 times greater than the excepted amount.

No comments:

Post a Comment