Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident: facts, environmental contamination, possible biological effects, and countermeasures

• Anzai Kazunori

  Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nihon Pharmaceutical University

• Ban Nobuhiko

  Division of Nursing Postgraduate School, Tokyo Healthcare University

• Ozawa Toshihiko

  Department of Health Pharmacy, Yokohama College of Pharmacy

• Tokonami Shinji

  Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University

Abstract

On March 11, 2011, an earthquake led to major problems at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. A 14-m high tsunami triggered by the earthquake disabled all AC power to Units 1, 2, and 3 of the Power Plant, and carried off fuel tanks for emergency diesel generators. Despite many efforts, cooling systems did not work and hydrogen explosions damaged the facilities, releasing a large amount of radioactive material into the environment. In this review, we describe the environmental impact of the nuclear accident, and the fundamental biological effects, acute and late, of the radiation. Possible medical countermeasures to radiation exposure are also discussed.<br>

Journal

• Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition

  Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 50 (1), 2-8, 2011

  SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN

Keywords

• Fukushima nuclear power plant
• nuclear accident
• environmental contamination
• reactive oxygen species
• low dose effect
• radiation mitigator

Details

• CRID: 1390282679649601536
• NII Article ID: 130004466666
• DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.d-11-00021
• ISSN: 18805086
• ISSN: 09120009
• ISSN: http://id.crossref.org/issn/09120009
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed