Author: Masaharu Tsubokura Editors: Akihiko Ozaki M.D., Yuki Senoo 61. Dosimeters are designed to prioritize safety External radiation exposure occurs when the body is exposed to penetrating radiation from an external source. Some of you may have experience measuring this using cumulative dosimeters. Cumulative dosimeters are set to display the same or higher air dose rate as the actual level of radiation exposure one would experience in one place. These devices are designed in such a way as to prioritize the safety of those who carry them, as the health effects of radiation on specific individuals are slightly different depending on their age and body shape as well as the direction from whi

Author: Cecilia Acuti Martellucci Master’s Candidate at the Department of Global Health Policy, The University of Tokyo Rising costs In Italy, between 1985 and 2016, mean life expectancy rose from 75.5 to 82.5 years, GDP from 436 to 1,859 billion USD (with ups and downs), and public expenditure for drugs from 4.6 to 16 million USD. Healthcare expenditure in 2016 was 149,500 million euros, 8.9% of GDP. 112,182 millions came from the public sector ? a 42% rise from the 2002 figure, while 37,318 were private expenditure. The largest costs were curative and rehabilitative care, and drugs and medical equipment, respectively a 55% and a 21% of the total expenditure. Hospitals were the main pro

Author: Masaharu Tsubokura Editors: Akihiko Ozaki M.D., Yuki Senoo 59. The health effects of external exposure received during walking through high radiation areas are small Microsievert/h is a unit of air dose rate used in radiation dosimeters. It indicates the doses from external exposure received while spending 1 hour in the measurement area. Hence, we can estimate the actual external radiation dose by multiplying the air dose rate by the amount of time spent. For example, when you stay in the area with 0.2 microsievert/h for 5 hours, the actual external radiation dose will be 1 microsievert (0.2 x 5). In comparing air dose rates in locations where people spend long periods of time versus

Author: Masaharu Tsubokura Editors: Akihiko Ozaki M.D., Yuki Senoo 57. The effect of radiation on pollen is small Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollens that irritates the nose and eyes. It causes a runny nose (rhinitis) and itchy eyes (conjunctivitis). Pollen levels in the air increase mostly in March. While it would be an overstatement to say there is no radioactive contamination in pollens, the cedar pollen test nonetheless revealed that its level is very low. For example, the concentration level of radioactive cesium in the cedar pollens in Minamisoma city was approximately 240 becquerels per kilogram in 2015, and it has been decreasing year by year. Furthermore, the amount of pol

Author: Lilipar Alim Medical student at Faculty of Medicine, University of Pecs I am a third-year medical student studying at a Hungarian medical school called the University of Pecs. I come from northwest China, and I am of Uyghur ethnicity. When I was younger, I loved learning new languages and science, as I have always been very passionate about helping people. My name, Lilipar, is a very ancient and mysterious name that means a magical herb that can heal any diseases, so I feel that I am destined to be in medicine. When I entered middle school, I also found out that I was attracted to natural science subjects, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. By the time I was in high school, I w

Author: Masaharu Tsubokura Editors: Akihiko Ozaki M.D., Yuki Senoo 55. Seaweed is rich in iodine From a global standpoint, Japanese people consume a large amount of iodine from seafood. Kombu, edible kelp, is especially rich in iodine compared to other seafood, such as seaweed, Hijiki, and laver. For example, one tablespoon (approx. 15 grams) of Tsukudani, simmered Kombu in soy sauce and mirin, contains 10 times more iodine than the recommended daily intake value for adults. The amount of iodine contained in 500ml of sports drinks and instant noodles is about half of the recommended daily intake value, and blended teas contain more than sports drinks. As you can see, kelp is used in many dri