あまりにも早い死。
原発に入る前の身体検査では、全く白血球の異常などが認められなかったというから、原発の放射能被曝とは因果関係がないなどと断定されても、全くもって解せない。
１６日に亡くなった事実が、３１日になってやっと発表されたことも不可解である。名前は公開しないにもかかわらず、家族に配慮して、発表を２週間遅らせたというが、TEPCOの発表は、いつに変わらず、１から１０まで腑に落ちないことが多すぎる。
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/08/31/fukushima-daiichi-death-not-related-to-plant-work-tepco/
By Yoree Koh
When Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Tuesday that a male employee in his 40s died of acute leukemia after working at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the news was as chilling as it was tragic, heightening concerns about the safety of plant workers.
- Tokyo Electric Power Co./European Pressphoto Agency
- A worker sits in front of the rest area at the service building of Unit 5 and Unit 6 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on May 19.
But the troubled operator of the even more troubled nuclear plant said that the cause of the death of the former laborer was unrelated to his brief stint at the facility early this month.
The unidentified worker was assigned to Fukushima Daiichi for about a week in early August by a subcontracting company. “It was concluded it is medically impossible for symptoms of acute leukemia to manifest from occupational radiation exposure from a few weeks ago,” said Tepco spokesman Hiroki Kawamata on Tuesday, referring to a doctor’s analysis submitted to the utility by the subcontracting firm. Tepco didn’t disclose further details on the exact cause of the worker’s death.
The man became sick after leaving the plant and underwent medical checkups before his death. The contracting firm notified Tepco of the death on Aug. 16. Mr. Kawamata said the company did not immediately release information of the death out of respect for the family. A medical examination conducted prior to the job and submitted by the subcontracting firm didn’t indicate any health concerns, said Mr. Kawamata.
The man was exposed to about 0.5 millisievert of external radiation and showed no internal exposure to radiation. The exposure is far lower than the high radiation doses – about 800 to 16,000 millisieverts – detected in the approximately 134 rescue workers responding to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident who suffered from acute radiation sickness, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Some 28 of those workers died within the first three months from their radiation injuries.
The man’s job at the battered nuclear plant was to manage workers’ exposure to radiation by opening and closing the door to an onsite rest area to prevent external radiation from entering the building. Mr. Kawamata said the worker wore the required full-body protective suit and mask, but said he did not know whether the man stood inside or outside of the building during his shifts.
About 2,553 workers were exposed to a combined internal and external radiation dose measuring between zero to 10 millisieverts in May, the most recent statistic available, according to Tepco. The average exposure amount for the month was 3.1 millisieverts. Japan’s health ministry set the radiation exposure limit for workers at the plan at 250 millisieverts in March. At least six plant workers have exceeded the allowable amount so far.
Center for Environmental Health Studies
Is Leukemia Radiation-Sensitive?
- Yes. The National Research Council’s BEIR V committee performed a detailed analysis of
the risks of leukemia from radiation exposures. Among their conclusions are that radiation
causes acute leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia.
9
The National Research Council advises the U.S. government on scientific matters. Their
Committee on Biological Effects of Exposure to Ionizing Radiations (BEIR) V reviewed
sensitivity of parts of the body to radiation. Their findings are based mostly on studies of cancer
among atomic bomb survivors, as well as on some of the available information on the biology of
the body, animal studies, and other evidence. The greatest risk is at high exposure levels.
Is Leukemia a “Specified” Cancer Under the Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA)?
- Yes. Leukemia is a “specified” cancer under the EEOIC Act consideration of Special
Exposure Cohorts, except for CLL.
Policy makers have identified certain types of cancer among energy employees at nuclear
facilities, including those employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as being potentially
related to occupational exposures under the EEOICPA.
急性白血病で福島原発作業員死亡 東電「因果関係なし」
東京電力は３０日、福島第一原子力発電所で復旧作業にあたっていた協力企業の４０代男性が８月上旬に急性白血病で死亡したと発表した。東電は「男性の作業と白血病による死亡に因果関係はない」としている。 東電によると、男性は８月上旬に福島第一原発で７日間、休憩場を出入りする作業員の放射線の被曝（ひばく）管理をしていた。その後、体調の不良を訴え、数日後に死亡したという。
男性はほかの原発も含めて原発内の作業にあたった経験はなく、今回が初めてだったという。被曝線量は外部被曝が０．５ミリシーベルト、内部被曝はなかった。東電が、協力企業を通じて診断医師に確認したところ、「急性白血病は（臨床症状が出るまでの）潜伏期間が数年あり、死亡直前に短期間被曝して発症することはない」との説明を受けたという。
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