More than 10,000 people have called a radiation hot line since the start of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, including fearful residents from as far away as Kyushu.
More than 10,000 people have called a radiation hot line since the start of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, including fearful residents from as far away as Kyushu.
The hot line, set up by the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Chiba, has received many calls from young mothers and grandparents in the Tokyo metropolitan area who are worried about risk to children.
Common comments and inquiries include: "I have been holed up at home without opening the window," "Can I use an air conditioner?" and "Can I dry my laundry outside?"
Kiyomi Kasai, an official at the Research Center for Radiation Protection, says some people are worrying too much.
Unlike in March, when explosions at the plant spread radioactive substances to the Tokyo area, almost all of the radioactive fallout is now gone, she said.
She said since radioactive cesium has fallen to the soil, opening windows and hanging laundry outdoors is safe unless the wind whips up a dust cloud.
When asked how to remove radioactive substances from clothes or skin, officials at the institute answer: "You can remove it by washing your clothes or taking a bath. Discard the water used to wash the clothes and you can continue to wear them."
Institute officials also say there is really no need to wear long-sleeved shirts if you live far from the plant. But they recommend that children in some districts in Fukushima Prefecture wear long pants to prevent radioactive contamination from the soil.
The institute received 10,752 calls between March 13, when the line was set up, and June 15, an official said.
Some callers were seriously concerned, saying, "I do not know what I should believe" or "I do not feel safe."
One woman asked if she could still give birth, while others in the Osaka and Kyushu areas said they "had been exposed to radiation."
If requested, the institute calculates radiation levels from food and checks for patterns to quell unwarranted fears among the callers.
According to Kasai, people tend to trust a person who sets off alarm bells rather than a person who says things will be all right.