Evaluating differences in attempted and confirmed follow-up from Poison Centers following the Fukushima nuclear accident, 2012-2017. Open Access

Abstract

The 55 poison centers across the United States receive regular calls regarding exposures to potentially toxic materials, such as ionizing radiation. Staff persons receiving these calls are also responsible for following up with callers to determine the medical outcomes of such exposures. After the Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan in March 2011, reports of above average readings of radioactive materials along the western coast of the United States have been reported even in early 2019. Between January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017, 586 calls were evaluated to assess whether factors like caller age, gender, and location impacted the likelihood of medical follow-up from a poison center staff member. Between 2012 and 2017, men were more likely to receive attempted (PR=1.23) and confirmed (PR=1.68) follow-up compared to women, and calls made from health care providers were also more likely to receive attempted (PR=1.45) and confirmed (PR=2.28) follow-up compared to calls made by the general public. Calls received from west coast states (those presumably more affected by the Fukushima accident than others) were 36% less likely to have had attempted follow-up (PR=0.64) and 65% less likely (PR= 0.35) to have had confirmed follow-up compared to calls from other states. These findings signal a need to further understand this discrepancy and explore whether there is a need for enhanced follow-up, especially for regions impacted or potentially impacted by large-scale events with long lasting health impacts like the Fukushima meltdown. If data from poison centers are to be used for surveillance of ionizing radiation exposures across the United States, there may be a need to routinize follow up with callers to realize the true public health impacts of such hazards. 

Table of Contents

Background and Literature Review ................................................ 1

Methods ................................................................................ 4

Results ................................................................................. 6

Discussion ............................................................................. 9

Strengths and Limitations .................................................. 10

Future Directions ............................................................12

References ............................................................................ 13

Tables ................................................................................. 15

Figures and Figure Legends ........................................................ 19 

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Physics, Radiation
Keyword	Fukushima Surveillance Ionizing radiation
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Allison Chamberlain, Emory University

Last modified

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Evaluating differences in attempted and confirmed follow-up from Poison Centers following the Fukushima nuclear accident, 2012-2017. ()	2019-04-22 12:19:31 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions