Effects of External Radiation Exposure on Perinatal Outcomes in Pregnant Women After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident: the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Yasuda, Shun; Okazaki, Kanako; Nakano, Hironori; Ishii, Kayoko; Kyozuka, Hyo; Murata, Tsuyoshi; Fujimori, Keiya; Goto, Aya; Yasumura, Seiji; M, Ota; Hata, Kenichi; Suzuki, Kohta; Nakai, Asami; Ohira, Tetsuya; Ohto, Hitoshi; Kamiya, Kenji

doi:10.2188/jea.je20210252

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“… 25 Although significant differences in the incidence of preterm births and low birth weight were observed among districts, there was no significant increasing trend in the incidence of preterm births, low birth weight, and neonatal abnormalities in all six districts of Fukushima Prefecture from 2011 to 2018. 11 , 16 The results of this study suggest that there is little effect of radiation accidents on the perinatal outcomes of pregnant women.…”

Section: Outcomes and Follow-up: Summary Of The Results Of The Fhmsmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Therefore, in order to summarize the results of the FHMS to date, this special issue presents an overview and results of the basic survey and four detailed surveys, as well as an examination of the association between low-dose radiation exposure and the outcomes of each survey. 7 – 16 Furthermore, we would like to provide an opportunity to discuss the future direction of the survey in addition to the current status and tasks of the FHMS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Achievements and Current Status of the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Yasumura

Ohira

Ishikawa

et al. 2022

Journal of Epidemiology

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The Fukushima Health Management Survey (FHMS) was established in response to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident on March 11, 2011. The primary objectives of the study are to monitor residents’ long-term health and promote their future well-being, and to determine the health effects of long-term low-dose radiation exposure. This special issue summarizes the results and current status of the FHMS and discusses the challenges and future directions of the FHMS. The FHMS, a cohort study of all people who were residents in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of the accident, consists of a Basic Survey, Thyroid Ultrasound Examination, Comprehensive Health Check, Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey, and Pregnancy and Birth Survey. The radiation exposure was estimated based on the behavioral records examined using the Basic Survey. Although the response rate was low in the Basic Survey, the representativeness of the radiation exposure data was confirmed using additional surveys. There appears to be no relationship between the radiation exposure and risk of thyroid cancer, although more thyroid cancer cases were detected than initially expected. The ongoing Comprehensive Health Check and Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey have provided evidence of worsening physical and mental health status. The Pregnancy and Birth Survey showed rates of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and congenital abnormalities similar to the national average. Considering the above evidence, the Fukushima Prefectural Government decided to end the Pregnancy and Birth Survey at the end of March 2021, as recommended by the Prefectural Oversight Committee. The framework of the FHMS has not changed, but the FHMS needs to adapt according to the survey results and the changing needs of the eligible residents and municipalities.

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Section: Outcomes and Follow-up: Summary Of The Results Of The Fhmsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achievements and Current Status of the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Yasumura

Ohira

Ishikawa

et al. 2022

Journal of Epidemiology

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“…Furthermore, there is no association between radiation exposure dose and perinatal outcomes. 14 Therefore, we can conclude that there is no evidence of a direct effect of radiation exposure on perinatal outcomes due to the radiation accident of Fukushima Prefecture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

The Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Perinatal Outcomes: Results of the Pregnancy and Birth Survey in the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Kyozuka

Murata

Yasuda

et al. 2022

Journal of Epidemiology

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There are limited studies on the long-term effects of natural/environmental disasters, especially nuclear disasters, on obstetric outcomes. This study aimed to review the results of perinatal outcomes immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, as well as their long-term trends over 8 years, in the Fukushima Health Management Survey. The annual population-based Pregnancy and Birth Survey is conducted as part of the Fukushima Health Management Survey. The Fukushima Prefecture government launched it to assess the health conditions of pregnant women and their neonates after the GEJE. The self-reported questionnaire was sent to 115,976 pregnant women by mail from January 2012, with 58,344 women responding to the questionnaire (50.3% response rate). Pregnancy complications, such as gestational hypertension, respiratory diseases, and mental disorders, increased in some women who were pregnant at the time of the earthquake and immediately after the earthquake. However, the direct effects on newborns, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies, were not immediately clear after the earthquake. Although there were significant differences in the occurrence of preterm birth and low birth weight among the districts, there was no change in the occurrences of preterm birth, low birth weight, or anomalies in newborns in Fukushima Prefecture from the fiscal year 2011 to the fiscal year 2018. Therefore, the long-term effects of the post-disaster radiation accident on perinatal outcomes are considered to be very small.

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“…However, a previous survey in the Fukushima Prefecture suggests that the occurrence of congenital anomalies among infants did not increase (8) . Furthermore, another survey in the Fukushima Prefecture that examined the external radiation dose received by pregnant women also did not reveal a relationship between external radiation dose and any increases in the occurrence of congenital anomalies among their infants (9) . However, no statistical analysis was made comparing the results of these studies with those of studies outside the geographical regions of the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%