We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2017

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25CONTRIBUTED MESSAGESMr. Malcolm Crick, Secretary, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR):The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) is a committee of the United Nations composed of scientific experts nominated by 27 Member States. Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the Committee decided to initiate a two-year assessment of the levels and effects of exposure to radiation resulting from the accident. Its findings were published in April 2014 as the UNSCEAR 2013 report.In general, because the doses following the accident were low, cancer rates are accordingly not expected to be significantly elevated due to radiation exposure of the population affected by the accident. One of the reasons seems that prompt precautionary restrictions on foodstuffs at the accident have contributed substantially to reduction of internal exposure.While more information will become available in the future and some details may change, the Committee does not expect the overall picture to change dramatically. The results of the reviews of relevant scientific literature published by the end of the year 2016 will be published as the 2017 white paper on the Committee’s website at www.unscear.org.Mr. Malcolm CrickSecretary, UNSCEARMr. Juan Carlos Lentijo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):The IAEA has conducted several missions related to the Fukushima Daiichi NPS accident at the request of Japanese authorities. On food, based on the information that has been made available, the IAEA and the FAO understand that measures to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is controlled effectively by the relevant authorities. Our assessment is that the measurements of caesium radionuclide levels in foodstuffs, together with appropriate regulatory action and public communication such as the publication of monitoring results, help maintain confidence in the safety of the food supply. The revisions and updates of food restrictions in line with the results of food sampling and monitoring indicates the continued vigilance of the authorities in Japan and their commitment to protecting consumers and trade. The close cooperation between Japan and the IAEA has contributed to Fukushima’s ongoing recovery. The IAEA is ready to continue supporting Japan and Fukushima Prefecture at the request of Japanese authorities.Mr. Juan Carlos LentijoDeputy Director General, IAEApeople, all volume and all bags of rice are swiftly examined using approximately 200 belt conveyor–type radioactive cesium concentration detectors installed in the various production districts throughout the prefecture.In all examinations of Fukushima Prefecture rice, fruits, and vegetables in the 2016 fiscal year, none exceeded the standard level of 100 Bq/kg established by the Japanese government.