The UNSCEAR 2020/2021 report's estimates of thyroid exposure from the Fukushima nuclear accident contain over 100 problems

Abstract

Although the Fukushima nuclear accident released a very large number of radionuclides, it is not known exactly how much the people of Fukushima Prefecture were exposed to. Since there are almost no actual measurements of exposure doses, we have to rely on the exposure doses estimated by the UNSCEAR 2020/2021 report. The report concluded that ‘exposure doses at Fukushima are considered to have been very low’, and in response, the Japanese government stated that ‘the effect of exposure on childhood thyroid cancer that occurred at Fukushima is unlikely’. However, as far as I have been able to find out, there are more than 100 problems with that report regarding estimates of thyroid exposure alone, which can be largely summarised in six underestimates.

Keywords

UNSCEAR report Fukushima nuclear accident Thyroid dose

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