Ruckus continues over Fukushima nosebleed comic

Why would anyone trust a government that passes laws restricting what can be said about this mess? One that leaves an incompetent company in charge of the clean up? Gotta wonder. The Japanese government has been feeding its people and the world baloney right from day one.

its a cartoon drawing man! who cares!

What's most important is detecting thyroid cancers early because if found in the early stages it's almost always successfully treated. There might be reason for the higher than expected incidence of thyroid cancer among Fukushima's children. If you look for a problem, especially if you use an incredibly sensitive technique, which is what the Japanese are actually doing, you will find something.

If the goverment is able to conduct comparable screenings among children in a region of Japan that was not affected by the disaster, it would at least establish whether or not the thyroid cancer spike in Fukushima is out of the ordinary.

You're quite sad, really

No, I'm not. EVERYTHING I post on Fukushima is supported by science and scientists. On the other hand, everything you post on Fukushima is because nuclear is bad m'kay. Now instead of personal incidents, why don't you go and read up on the subject and produce some links if you feel I'm wrong. Interesting that you seem to ignore that the more you test and the more stringently you will find something.

It's well known that people in Fukushima are suffering from stress and anxiety. Want to know one of the signs of stress? Nosebleeds. Now of course in your opinion it could only be caused by radiation. You constantly ask for international opinion because you can't believe the Japanese but then when the international experts say that it's not caused by radiation and it's unlikely that there will be many deaths caused by Fukushima you resort to personal attacks.

I think Famador and Star Viking have fully explained why these results seem to be high. It's interesting that again, they get marked down because it doesn't fit with the 'we're all going to die because of Fukushima policy' that you want to promote.

Wipeout, you may disagree with everything I say on nuclear, but as I said before, it's what the science community are saying (supported by the WHO and UN) and I do frequently post quotes/links attributed to them. I'm comfortable in my well researched stance.

Zichi - the fact that it was a level 7 doesn't change the facts that the local population suffered substantially less contamination than those in Chernobyl. That you accept that thyroid cancers from Chernobyl didn't appear till three years after yet seem to believe that this increase (despite all of the evidence posted by Star Viking and Famador) can only be from Fukushima is remarkable. Less radiation released. Less contamination. Less in the food, less food consumed = thyroid cancers forming at a faster rate than they did in Chernobyl.

Well then, that must be a very strange coïncidence...? (We shouldn't forget that "only the truth hurts...")

Surely you're not implying that the only possible cause for thyroid cancer is radiation from Fukushima? This article is missing a very basic piece of information (probably on purpose) - "How many cases of confirmed and suspected thyroid cancer have been discovered in each of the OTHER Japanese prefectures over the last three years?"

National rate for thyroid cancer in 10-14 year olds is 1-2 per million. Out of about 250,000 Fukushima children tested, there are 75 cases and about 33 confirmed cases of thyroid cancer.

So considering we're talking about a three-year span of monitoring, you're looking at a rate for 10-14 year olds of 3-6 per million. Now that you've helpfully quoted that rate, tell us what the rate is for ages 15-18 which was ALSO included in the 33 confirmed cases, then tell us what the rate is for newborns to age 9, which was ALSO included in the 33 confirmed cases. I think the "way above" statement will seem a bit extreme after you add those rates in, then adjust for three years of case accumulation.

Finally, the rate of thyroid cancer diagnosis is increasing WORLDWIDE - whether due to more aggressive screening or merely picking anything out of the ordinary on the thyroid gland and labeling it as cancer - and had been increasing even BEFORE 3/11. The rate is higher now than it was three years ago and Fukushima has nothing to do with it for the majority of the world. So why would Fukushima be expected to be immune to this global increase?

At Chernobyl thyroid cancers didn't appear until about three years after the nuclear disaster.

And the World health organization's summary states a major contributing cause:

This was further exacerbated by a general iodine deficiency in the local diet causing more of the radioactive iodine to be accumulated in the thyroid. Since radioactive iodine is short lived, if people had stopped giving locally supplied contaminated milk to children for a few months following the accident, it is likely that most of the increase in radiation-induced thyroid cancer would not have resulted.

Isn't nori naturally high in iodine? Japan is not Ukraine.

zichi; "Newly released documents show that 90% of the workforce, including senior managers at the No 1 Fukushima plant, fled the plant and the nuclear disaster of 3/11."

Don't tell that to Heda! Oops, you just did! I guess I should say don't expect him to actually acknowledge it, given his fondness for the nuclear village.

Heda: "Ah yes. The old, say something couldn't be because of Fukushima and you get voted down."

You're being voted down because you are dismissing the obvious. Why did I ask you where the tests were taking place? because you sorely need to admit the tests are needed because of the nuclear incident (not 'accident'). But hey, bud, go test across Japan and compare with the stats of Fukushima. Compare all the nose bleeds, which are quite real, as a certain mayor has proven, then suggest the NPPs should be restarted and there are no problems, etc. You're quite sad, really. And in a decade, when people from Fukushima are suffering 'weird' cancer effects and dying from said cancer, you'll be back on here saying it's merely coincidence.

Nice description on screening Wipeout. As I posted, the scanners were tested in geographically distant area, and found results comparable with Fukushima. This does suggest that the reported cases in Fukushima are from screening effects.

Smith,

The scanners were tested in Kofu, Nagasaki, and Hirosaki.

See here: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/03/31/national/thyroids-test-normal-in-fukushima/

Smith,

They are being tested in Fukushima because of an accident at a nuclear power plant though I have no idea why you need to ask that question.

Now here's a question for you. Do you believe that if you test more and more stringently you will find more?

Heda: answer my question. Where are they being tested and why?

The news sources hardly ever mention that the new scanners used to check kids in Fukushima are so much more effective than the old method, checking by hand. Neither do they mention that the scanners were tested in other parts of Japan, and the kids had similar anomaly rates to kids in Fukushima. This should not be surprising, as the main Thyroid Cancer, the Papillary varity, is usually slow-growing. It can start in childhood, but not be detected by hand until adulthood. What is happeing in Fukushima is that the new scanners are picking up these slow-growing cancers early.

the problem is that by the time its scientifically proven it will be too late...

<>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/20/national/number-fukushima-kids-thyroid-cancer-jumps-17-december/

Everything is under control...

dude its a manga, do people actually take it as truth?

Ah yes. The old, say something couldn't be because of Fukushima and you get voted down.

Dillwyn Williams, emeritus professor of pathology at Cambridge University, pointed out that a noticeable increase in thyroid cancers was not observed until three to four years after the Chernobyl accident.

"Much less radioactivity was released from Fukushima than from Chernobyl," he said. "Most of [the Fukushima radiation] was blown over the Pacific Ocean, and thyroid doses in the most-affected areas are low compared to Chernobyl.

"It is very unlikely there will be a large increase in thyroid cancer or any other health problems, apart from anxiety and psychological difficulties.

Here's another quote from another expert: Gerry Thomas, professor of molecular pathology at Imperial College, London University, blames growing anxiety among Fukushima residents on "pseudo-scientists who can shout louder than real scientists".

I guess she's been reading the Japan Today comments threads.

We just do not know, if it's anecdotal or science due to the governments pathetic history of NOT telling the facts. Or quietly releasing them piecemeal months or years latter.

No it isn't all that needs to be said. You're saying that the results are higher in Fukushima but ignoring the fact that if you test more and if you look harder you will find more.

You make a categorical claim that the reason why it's higher is purely because of the Fukushima incident. And whilst there will be a small increase caused by Fukushima (WHO, UN etc) the reason why there is a significantly higher number than elsewhere is because they are testing more and they are testing it more stringently.

But I forgot, you don't believe in science do you?

Heda_Madness: "More children will be found to have thyroid anomalies because they've been tested."

And where is it they're being tested again? and why? That's all that needs to be said.

I will never diss manga again. Thank you Tetsu Kariya!

If it takes a comic book to open more eyes and get some dialog going, then that's what it takes. Anything is better than the dismissive cold shoulders I get when I rarely bring up the topic, mostly it's an off hand remark when some start griping about Chinese food or pollution.

And lets get something straight please, this is an on going disaster and no one knows what's going to happen tomorrow or next month or next year. So, to only talk about what's happing "today" whether it's "no clear evidence of" radiation sickness or thyroid problems, is illogical at best and deceptively evil at worst.

I started reading this manga about a year ago, but it'll be a while before I make it to this issue :/

"Seventy-five confirmed and suspected cases of thyroid cancer have been found in those tests, but it is unclear whether they are linked to radiation."

Yeah, because so many people under 18 all across Japan have thyroid cancer and the fact that it's so much higher in Fukushima is, of course, not linkable.

No, actually in other parts of Japan they haven't tested all of the children and they haven't tested using the same equipment that they are using in Fukushima. More children will be found to have thyroid anomalies because they've been tested. Children in other parts of Japan will have thyroid anomalies but because they don't test for them they won't be found. There's so much about it on the internet.

"discrimination against Fukushima was causing far more real suffering, not radiation."

If only there were proof that the government is right!! We will only know in 20 or 30 years time I guess...

"Seventy-five confirmed and suspected cases of thyroid cancer have been found in those tests, but it is unclear whether they are linked to radiation."

Yeah, because so many people under 18 all across Japan have thyroid cancer and the fact that it's so much higher in Fukushima is, of course, not linkable. And all those people, a mayor included, suffering nose bleeds? Hell, just the air in Fukushima is drier, I guess.

Avoid all products from the area, people.

As a form of entertainment, the mangaka was on firm ground UNTIL he titled it, "The Truth About Fukushima." Unless he has documented cases of an unusually high number of nosebleeds in people from there, he's going to be facing some heat on this.

'So far, there has been no confirmed illnesses related to radiation among nuclear plant workers or residents of Fukushima. The nuclear disaster began three years ago in March 2011, when a giant tsunami disabled backup generators at three reactors. Entire towns around the Fukushima plant remain no-go zones.'

According to whom? Hasn't it already been reported that thyroid cancer in children(in Fukushima) is significantly higher than the rest of Japan? Haven't people in Fukushima experienced nosebleeds,teeth falling out etc? Of course, the genetic damage evident in plants,insects and birds cannot possibly be the result of the largest radioactive contamination in human history can it?

Which doctors in Japan are skilled at pinpointing illness as a result of radiation poisoning? Ever heard of a radiation scanner in use at your local hospital?

Keep smiling........!

"discrimination against Fukushima was causing far more real suffering, not radiation."

Please remember this everyone. And then consider what you write.

Seventy-five confirmed and suspected cases of thyroid cancer have been found in those tests, but it is unclear whether they are linked to radiation.

It's interesting that none of those Fukushima cases have been linked to radiation from the exploded reactors. At the same time they have no difficulty, even now, in attributing cases of thyroid cancer in people who were in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to radiation from the nuclear bombs.

I expect the difference is due to the "foreign" radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, whilst "Japanese" radiation, courtesy of Tepco, is harmless.

Seventy-five confirmed and suspected cases of thyroid cancer have been found in those tests, but it is unclear whether they are linked to radiation.

Well then, that must be a very strange coïncidence...? (We shouldn't forget that "only the truth hurts...")

States that; So far there has been no confirmed illness related to radiation .... Do they really expect the public to believe this? Who writes these things? And let me understand something here, comics about incense, rape, pedophila, and violence are okay but comics about public health and safety is not?

Sweeping your personal impressions and your feelings under the carpet does not benefit the country as a whole. Awareness of the suffering and the damage that has been done to such a beautiful part of the country is essential for healing.

Had the artist been an outsider attacking Japan or if the depiction was unrealistic then it would deserve some discourse. It is just a comic after all. Not a textbook in a classroom