Testing how radiation levels affect children in Fukushima


Leslie Wilson | July 29, 2015

A man measures radiation levels in Japan. Photo: Leslie Wilson/CWS

A man measures radiation levels in Japan. Photo: Leslie Wilson/CWS

Of all the activities CWS supports in Asia, this one – measuring, documenting and sharing radiation levels information following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster – is most amazing to me. Here is my brilliant colleague who decided to address the fact that radiation effects on children need to be measured low to the ground, and not at the meter-plus level, adult-level heights the government-monitored equipment uses.

I honestly think his use of a stroller to mount and move about with this tablet-based measuring device was, to him, simply practical – lightweight, mobile. To me, the stroller is a powerful message itself. We have to measure at a child’s level to best test the possible effects the radiation would have children. Yoshino-san, from our Japanese partner Shalom, is doing an amazing job mapping parks, pre-schools and kindergartens.

We are supporting him to share the information widely, with an on-site interview with reporters a couple days ago and posters of the latest radiation hot spots posted around parks, schools and other areas that could put children at risk for radiation exposure. Simply brilliant.