Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Yoora Jeong ’27
The Fukushima nuclear accident remains one of the worst nuclear disasters in history, with effects that still linger more than a decade later. Radiation contamination, ecological damage, and the psychological toll on residents have permanently altered the prefecture. Once home to over 160,000 people, the area is now a collection of ghost towns, serving as a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear disaster.
In 2011, the disaster set off with a massive earthquake that struck off Japan’s coast, consequently triggering a tsunami that caused a power failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Reactor meltdowns and malfunctions leaked radioactive materials. Radioactive isotopes like cesium-137 and iodine-131 contaminated farmland, forests, and water sources. Some radioactive isotopes, such as iodine-131, decay quickly; some radioactive isotopes, like cesium-137, have a 30-year half-life, making cleanup challenging. An estimated 5.5 tons of radioactive water from reactor core failure initially leaked into the Pacific Ocean; however, totals up to 1 million from all Fukushima activity. With ocean currents being diluted, radioactive isotopes seeped into some fish and seafloor sediments. According to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, radiation levels in marine life have dropped significantly, and by 2015, only a small number of fish exceeded Japan’s safety threshold. Japan contemplated releasing over 1 million tonnes of treated radioactive water into the ocean in 2023, sparking many concerns from citizens.
Beyond the evident ecological damage, the disaster had a lasting impact on the people of Fukushima. Citizens, particularly children, exposed to iodine-131 had increased risks of thyroid cancer. Many required widespread health screenings and medical monitoring. Emotional and psychological toll of forced displacement also came along. A large post-disaster mental health survey conducted in 2012 in Fukushima Prefecture covering more than 210,000 survivors found that 14.6% of adults were suspected of having depression and 21.6% had PTSD. Long-term displacement, job loss, and social isolation worsened psychological distress, increasing suicide rates. Many survivors also reported sleep issues and resorted to alcoholism as coping mechanisms.
Over a decade later, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is still in the process of decommissioning. The procedure is estimated to take at least 30 years to be completed safely. However, even then, the prefecture will only be a shadow of its past self.
References:
Burke, Maria. “A Decade on Japan Is Still Grappling with the Environmental Impact of Fukushima.” Chemistry World, Chemistry World, 10 June 2024, www.chemistryworld.com/news/a-decade-on-japan-is-still-grappling-with-the-environmental-impact-of-fukushima/4013364.article?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
“Environmental Impact of the Fukushima Accident: Radiological Situation in Japan.” Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS, www.bfs.de/EN/topics/ion/accident-management/emergency/fukushima/environmental-consequences.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Nature, www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66369-z.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
“Fukushima Daiichi Accident.” World Nuclear Association, world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accident. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Filip K. Arnberg, et al. “Prevalence and Duration of PTSD in Survivors 6 Years after a Natural Disaster.” Journal of Anxiety Disorders, Pergamon, 13 Apr. 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887618513000583.
