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National comparative birth defects study needed in Japan

Reporters in Japan write about rise in birth defects for 2011 — University won’t publish data on malformed babies after many years of doing so; Not releasing figures for Fukushima, other prefectures — Expert: This is ridiculous http://enenews.com/reporters-in-japan-write-about-birth-defects-after-nuclear-disaster-university-no-longer-publishing-data-on-malformed-babies-refuses-to-release-figures-for-fukushima-or-other-prefectures-expe
Title: The Fukushima Generation: New Data on Birth Defects in Post-Meltdown Japan
Source: Daily Beast
Author: Jake Adelstein, Nathalie Kyoko Stucky
Date: Sept. 26, 2013
Emphasis Added

The Daily Beast recently obtained unpublished data on birth defects in Japan, which showed a small increase in prevalence rates for 2011 […] The university that conducted the study will not release regional figures. However, several nuclear experts in and outside of the country assert that Japan needs to seriously measure the health impact of its nuclear problems, including birth defects, “with not just annual data but monthly data and broken down by prefecture.”

[…] Yokohama City University […] has been doing studies of birth defects in Japan for over a decade. The 2011 Report on Congenital Malformations notes the prevalence of malformed infants as 2.43 percent, the highest figure since 1999 (1.48 percent). However, the figures for 2010 were 2.31 percent, indicating only a small increase between 2010 and 2011. […]

Since 1999, the Yokohama City University has been releasing the statistical report regularly around the month of May, but did not publish the data this year. After repeated requests, it finally provided the 2011 data, which is still currently unavailable to the public.

The university, while releasing the total figures, would not release prefecture-by-prefecture data. […]

The Japanese government has a past history of censoring negative information about health damage caused by corporate malfeasance […] the central government even worked with the polluting corporations to minimize evidence showing the cause and range of the illness […]

Comments regarding the 2011 data:

Dr. Fumiki Hirahara, in charge of compiling the above data: “It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to try to compare the prefectural data. There is no meaningful increase in in birth defects since 2011, in my opinion.”
Dr. Ian Fairlie, British radiation expert: “What would be needed is monthly, not just annual data and broken down by Prefecture.”
Dr. Robert Peter Gale: “The rate of roughly 2.5 percent is lower than the normal prevalence which is 5 to 10 percent. Also, the types of abnormalities reported are not those associated with radiation exposures. The bottom line is there is no convincing evidence of increased birth defects.” [More of Gale’s thoughts on the subject here: Professor: Do not examine Fukushima children for health problems because it’s likely to cause harm — Abnormalities would be found, leading to unnecessary tests]
Alexey V. Yablokov, Biologist & member of Russian Academy of Scientists: “The Japanese government is not trustworthy when it comes to releasing information about Fukushima, which is Japan’s Chernobyl. The assertion that prefecture specific data would not be useful is ridiculous … A real national comparative study needs to be conducted.”

From August 2013: Hospital aborted babies with birth defects […] cases involved babies with Down syndrome or other chromosomal disorders [and] conditions in which fluid accumulates in their abdomen or chests […] law does not allow abortions on the grounds of genetic defects -NHK World

September 28, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, Japan