Abstract
The Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, caused a disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, and this led all of Japan to consider the prospective risk of radiation. This radiation hazard affected not only the inhabitants of Fukushima but also the entire nation, owing to the circulation of contaminated food across Japan. Consequently, paranoia spread across the country, and it was not based on accurate information and knowledge regarding radiation. Moreover, several other nations also feared being affected by radiation from Fukushima. As radiologists, we are often exposed to radiation, but understand the usefulness and risk of radiation. We have been educated to reduce radiation exposure. Moreover, we have worked hard to minimize patients' radiation exposure. However, most people, including healthcare professionals, have not been educated about radiation.
Those dealing with radiation, including healthcare professionals, are required to receive radiation safety education annually. The provision of this education has been undertaken by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. At Juntendo University, radiation safety education is conducted once a year, but it attracts only a few attendants. I presume that none of you were interested in the issue of radiation and that you did not regard radiation to be a significant hazard either. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I attempted to spread awareness about radiation among healthcare professionals. I explained the situation around the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster and improved the healthcare professionals' knowledge of radiation. In addition, I briefly discussed background radiation exposure in daily life, radiation exposure as an occupational hazard, and medical exposure to radiation. I wish to address the subject of radiation from a larger perspective.
