Regarding the March 12 article, "'Invisible' enemy stalks Fukushima": Cancer risks at radiation doses well below 100 millisieverts have been studied by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Take a look at an informative video (http://vimeo.com/35212151) produced by Fairewinds Energy Education; it contains references to and, a review of, such research reports.

One citation from www.fairewinds.com: "Fairewinds analyzes cancer rates for young children near Fukushima using the National Academy of Science's BEIR (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation) VII Report. Based on BEIR VII, Fairewinds [has determined] that at least one in every 100 young girls will develop cancer for every year they are exposed to 20 mSv of radiation. The 20 mSv/year figure is what the Japanese government is currently calculating as the legal limit of radiological exposure to allow habitation of contaminated areas near the Fukushima Daiichi (No. 1) nuclear power plant.

"In this video, Fairewinds introduces additional analysis by Ian Goddard showing that the BEIR VII report underestimates the true cancer rates to young children living near Fukushima Daiichi. Looking at the scientific data presented by Goddard, Fairewinds has determined that at least one out of every 20 young girls (5 percent) living in an area where the radiological exposure is 20 mSv for five years will develop cancer in their lifetime."

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

johan kero