BEIJING, March 18, (RTRS):  The World Health Organization believes the spread of radiation from a quake-crippled nuclear plant in Japan remains limited and appears to pose no immediate risk to health, the WHO’s China representative said on Friday.
“At this point, there is still no evidence that there’s been significant radiation spread beyond the immediate zone of the reactors themselves,” Michael O’Leary told a group of reporters.
“At the same time, we know that the situation is evolving and we need to monitor closely and see what happens over time. Things can obviously change, and have changed, over this last week.”
Japan has been battling for nearly a week to bring under control the overheating Fukushima nuclear plant after it was battered by a massive earthquake and tsunami.
Experts and officials fear a major leak of radioactive substances from the plant could pose a serious health risk, and China and nearby countries have stepped up monitoring of radiation levels.
O’Leary suggested that the impact of such an event on China would be small, but said other factors mattered too.
“The reactors, of course, are quite far from China. The risk of spread depends on several factors. One is obviously the amount of radioactive material, or radionuclides, that are released from the reactor itself. Beyond that are weather and wind conditions that determine,” he said. “As with anything that spreads or can spread out, the farther away you are, the more dispersed it is.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued fresh guidelines on how to minimize exposure to radiation that can cause cancers, especially in children and young adults. The United Nations agency said measures taken by Japan so far meet its public health recommendations, including evacuating people within 20 km of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant and asking those within 30 km to stay indoors.    There was no indication of food safety risks due to imports of food products from Japan. It was also unlikely food production or harvesting in the affected area was taking place, but it said crops and livestock in the area should be protected.
Recommendations:
n The main radionuclides released in a nuclear power plant accident are radioactive cesium and radioactive iodine. “Members of the public may be exposed directly to such radionuclides in the suspended air or if food and drink are contaminated by such materials,” the WHO said.
n  If radioactive iodine is breathed in or swallowed, it will concentrate in the thyroid gland and increase the risk of thyroid cancer. This risk can be lowered by taking potassium iodide pills which saturate the thyroid gland and help prevent the uptake of the radioactive material. “When given before or shortly after exposure, this step can reduce the risk of cancer in the long term,” it said. National authorities are best placed to determine if it is warranted to take the tablets.

•  If a dose of radiation exceeds a certain threshold level, then it can produce skin redness, hair loss, radiation burns and acute radiation syndrome. Due to their work, rescuers and nuclear power plant workers may be exposed to higher radiation doses than the general population.
•  Exposure to radiation can increase the risk of cancer. Among the survivors in Japan of US atomic bombs dropped in August 1945, the risk of leukemia increased a few years after radiation exposure, while the risks of other cancers increased more than 10 years after the exposure.
•  The risk of thyroid cancer following radiation exposure is higher in children and young adults.
•   If warranted, steps such as restricting the consumption of vegetables and dairy products produced in the vicinity of the power plant can also reduce exposure.
•   “If you are coming indoors after radiation exposure, undress in the doorway to avoid further contamination in your home or shelter. Remove clothing and shoes and place them in a plastic bag. Seal the bag and place it in a safe location, away from living areas, children, and pets,” it said.
•  “Shower or bathe with warm, not scalding hot, water and soap. Notify authorities that you may have contaminated clothing and personal belongings to be handled appropriately and disposed of according to accepted national procedures,” the WHO said.
•  “If you are advised to stay indoors, you should find the safest room in your house or office building that has no windows or doors. Ventilation systems, such as heating and cooling systems, should be shut down,” the agency said.
•   Foods can be contaminated with radioactive materials as a result of a nuclear or radiological emergency. “The surface of foods like fruits and vegetables or animal feed can become radioactive by deposit of radioactive materials falling on it from the air or through rain water.”
•  Over time, radioactivity can also build up within food, as radionuclides are transferred through soil into crops or animals or into rivers, lakes and the sea where fish and shellfish could take up the radionuclides.
•  “Radioactivity cannot contaminate food that is packaged; for example, tinned or plastic-wrapped food is protected from radioactivity as long as the food is sealed,” the WHO said.
•   In the early stages of an emergency, and if it is safe to do so, vegetables and animal fodder can be protected with plastic sheets or tarpaulins. “Bring livestock in from pasture; move animals into a shed or barn. Harvest any ripe crops and place under cover,” it said.
•  Avoid consumption of locally produced milk or vegetables, avoid slaughtering animals and avoid fishing, hunting or gathering mushrooms or other forest foods.

Also:
VIENNA: The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) doctors group may pull its emergency team out of the area near a stricken nuclear plant in Japan if the situation escalates, the head of its Japan section said on Thursday.
“We are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. We have radiometers (radiation detectors) with each of our teams on the ground,” Eric Ouannes said in an in-house interview that the aid organisation released.
“As soon as we reach a level that could become unhealthy or dangerous for our teams, we will evacuate the team. We have the means to evacuate quite rapidly, evacuation routes have been identified, so yes, that’s what we will do.”
He said MSF teams did not have the expertise to treat illnesses caused by radiation.
“This is more the duty of the Japanese government and, from what we hear or read in the news, they are already trying to prepare for that.”
While international attention has been focused on Japan’s efforts to stop damage at the nuclear plant from spiralling out of control, a massive salvage and rescue operation is underway to help the millions affected by last week’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami.
The official death toll stands at less than 5,000 but thousands more are listed as missing. About 850,000 households in the north were reported to be without electricity and at least 1.5 million households without water.
The main health issue in the 20 or 30 evacuation centres MSF teams visited is chronic diseases among elderly people such as hypertension, cardiac diseases, and diabetes, he said.
“We have also seen some cases of hypothermia affecting people, as well as dehydration. But again, it’s a limited number of cases compared to the vast number of people who have been displaced or who have lost their homes.”
He also cited a lack of fuel, food and water, saying that blankets were the most urgent need.
MSF has 11 staff in the area near the plant and 40 in Tokyo.