Healthcare

In concerning to nuclear’s crisis in Japan, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new recommendations to minimize the nuclear exposure in human.

As main radionuclides released in a nuclear power plant accident are radioactive of cesium and iodine, therefore, the exposure may came from air, water, and foods.

The recommendation as following;
- There is possible of thyroid cancer when the substances’ radioactive inhaled or swallowed. However. the risk can be lowered by taking potassium iodine pills which saturate the thyroid gland and help prevent the uptake of the radioactive material.

- For rescuer and nuclear power plant workers, they should be known that there is possibly of skin redness, hair loss, radiation burns, and acute radiation syndrome, when they receive the radiation dose exceeds a certain threshold level.

- The risk of leukemia can increase in few years and more than 10 years for other cancer after radiation exposure (based on atomic bomb in Japan in August 1945).

- The children and young adults are more risky of thyroid cancer prevalence than other groups.

- Avoid consumption of vegetables and dairy products produced in the vicinity of the power plant if warranted in order to reduce exposure.

- WHO said, “If you are coming indoors after radiation exposure, undress in the doorway to avoid further contamination in your home or shelter. Remove clothing and shoes and place them in the plastic bag. Seal the bag and place it in a safe location, away from living areas, children, and pets.”

- “Shower or bathe with warm, not scalding hot, water, and soap. Notify authorities that you may have contaminated clothing and personal belongins to be handled appropriately and disposed of according to accepted national procedures.”

- According to the United Nations agency, “If you are advised to stay indoors, you should find the safest room in your house or office building that has no windows or doors. Ventilation systems, such as heating and cooling systems, should be shut down.”

- As the radiation exposure can contaminated the foods, “The surface of foods like fruits and vegetables or animal feed can become radioactive by deposit of radioactive materials falling on it from the air or through rain water.”

- As radionuclides can transferred through soil into crops, animals, rivers, lakes and the sear where fish and shelfish could take up the radionuclides, therefore, radioactivity can also build up within food over the time.

- However, “Radioactivity cannot contaminate food that is packaged; for example, tinned or plastic-wrapped food is protected from radioactivity as long as the food is sealed.”

- In order to increase the safety as an early stages of an emergency, vegetables and animal fodder can be protected with plastic sheets or tarpaulins.

- Bring livestock in from pasture; move animals into a shed or barn.

- Harvest any ripe crops and place under cover.

- Avoid consumption of locally produced milk or vegetables, avoid slaughtering animals and avoid fishing, hunting or gathering mushrooms or other forest foods.