High exposure to radiation possible before officials acted
FUKUSHIMA — Residents near the Fukushima No. 1 plant may have been exposed to up to 19 millisieverts of radiation during the first four months of the nuclear crisis, the Fukushima Prefectural Government said Tuesday.
This indicates residents subject to the greatest exposure may have been outside the immediate evacuation area, in locations where radioactive hot spots were later revealed and prompted belated evacuation advisories long after the crisis started March 11.
Fukushima Medical University Vice President Shunichi Yamashita, who headed the team conducting the survey, said the estimated readings are much lower than those after the 1986 Chernobyl accident and should not pose a problem.
Continue reading at Evacuations too late outside no-go zone
Yet again, an expert denies the possible health risks.