Scientists say this public health effort is critically-important

Jan 21, 2014 13:29 GMT  ·  By
Strontium-90 and some isotopes of cesium may reveal signs of nuclear contamination on children living near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
   Strontium-90 and some isotopes of cesium may reveal signs of nuclear contamination on children living near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

As part of a wider-scale project to inspect the public health implications of the triple core meltdown that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, in early 2011, the Japanese Environment Ministry has mandated the Fukushima Prefecture Dental Association to conduct a study on the teeth of children in the area. 

The FPDA will look for any potential signs of the radioactive isotope strontium-90, which can be used as a marker to gage the severity of nuclear contamination within populations living in this region. Strontium-90 is similar to calcium in the sense that it is absorbed in bones and teeth after exposure.

Authorities plan to focus their investigation on children between the ages of 5 and 15, as the young ones would be most vulnerable at this age range. Dental care experts will also look for any potential signs of cesium isotopes in the teeth samples they will study, Japan Times reports.

All collected data will be centralized at the Ou University in Fukushima, and analyzed carefully before being submitted to prefecture authorities. The latter will then develop whatever public health policies are needed to address the conclusions of the research.