Worker at Fukushima Nuclear Plant Diagnosed With Leukemia

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was initiated after tsunami in 2011. After-effects of the disaster can be seen even after four years as a worker at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan has been diagnosed with leukemia. According to experts, the latest cancer case doesn’t mean there will be a sharp increase in cancer cases related to the plant.

A massive earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi plant a few years ago. The disaster melted plant’s three reactors and forced workers and nearby local residents to evacuate the place. More than 80,000 people nearby residents left their places amid threat of radiation.

The Associated Press reported that Japan's Office of Health and Labor Ministry confirmed that a Fukushima nuclear plant worker is diagnosed with cancer and said that the worker’s claim has been approved for compensation. When Tepco, which ran the Fukushima plant, was asked about the new cancer case, it didn’t answer.

Dr. James O'Donnell, division chief of nuclear medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, said the new case has increased the worker’s risk for cancer. While talking to ABC News, O'Donnell said there are 4 to 5% increased chances of cancer risk for a number of Fukushima employees.

“If there is no radiation you’d expect 10 to 15 people for every 100,000 to get leukemia. Four percent increase means 11 to 16 workers out of 100,000 may develop cancer. O'Donnell said exposure to radiation is more commonly associated with thyroid cancer”, according to O'Donnell.