Why Do They Not Come Home? Three Cases of Fukushima Nuclear Accident Evacuees

Naomi Ito; Nobuaki Moriyama; Ayako Furuyama; Hiroaki Saito; Toyoaki Sawano; Isamu Amir; Mika Sato; Yurie Kobashi; Tianchen Zhao; Chika Yamamoto; Toshiki Abe; Masaharu Tsubokura

doi:10.3390/ijerph20054027

Why Do They Not Come Home? Three Cases of Fukushima Nuclear Accident Evacuees

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 24;20(5):4027. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054027.

Authors

Naomi Ito¹, Nobuaki Moriyama², Ayako Furuyama³, Hiroaki Saito^{1

4}, Toyoaki Sawano^{1

5}, Isamu Amir¹, Mika Sato⁶, Yurie Kobashi^{1

7}, Tianchen Zhao¹, Chika Yamamoto¹, Toshiki Abe¹, Masaharu Tsubokura¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Health Management, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
² Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
³ Health Promotion Center, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Okinouchi, Soma, Fukushima 976-0016, Japan.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Fukushima 972-8322, Japan.
⁶ Department of Health Nursing of International Radiation Exposure, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
⁷ Department of General Internal Medicine, Hirata Central Hospital, Hirata, Ishikawa District, Fukushima 963-8202, Japan.

Abstract

Many people wish to return to where they used to live after evacuation due to disaster. After the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, many residents were forced to evacuate due to concerns about radiation. Subsequently, the evacuation order was lifted, and the government promoted a return policy. However, it has been reported that a considerable number of residents living in evacuation sites or other areas wish to return but are unable to do so. Here, we report three cases of Japanese men and one woman who evacuated after the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima. These cases reveal the rapid aging of residents and their health issues. These issues suggest that enhancing medical supply systems and access to medical care can aid in post-disaster reconstruction and residents' returning.

Keywords: Fukushima nuclear accident; aging in place; disaster; health issues; local residents; returning home.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Disasters*
Female
Fukushima Nuclear Accident*
Humans
Japan
Male

Grants and funding

This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number MO22K11233 and Research Project on the Health Effects of Radiation organized by Ministry of the Environment, Japan.