A group of Fukushima residents were told on Sunday they could soon return to their homes three years after the massive nuclear catastrophe at the nearby power plant left a ghost town in its wake, though many residents remain suspicious of the overall safety of living in the area.
“The decision comes despite sharp divisions among residents over whether or not they should return,” reports Agence France-Press, “with many still concerned over the persistent presence of low-level radiation, despite decontamination efforts.”
While data varies, The International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends the safest limit of radiation dosage per person per year is one millisievert. In contrast, Japan’s governmental guidelines say areas with 20 millisieverts of radiation per year are suitable for human life.
Reporting from Japan’s Asahi Shimbun on Monday suggests that one reason the government “is rushing to lift evacuation orders” for the surrounding areas is money. Asahi Shimbun reports:
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