Ex-Fukushima nuclear plant worker confirmed to have cancer

A man in his 40s who worked at the Fukushima nuclear plant after the 2011 disaster is the first person confirmed to have developed cancer from radiation exposure. Japan’s Health and Labor Ministry said the man, who wasn’t identified further, has received government approval for compensation for the radiation-induced illness. It said he helped install covers on damaged reactors at the plant from October 2012 to December 2013. He did not work at Fukushima in the weeks after the massive earthquake and tsunami destroyed the plant in March 2011, when radiation levels were the highest.

His total exposure of 19.8 millisievert was mostly from his work at Fukushima.

A Japanese official confirmed on Tuesday.

The case could be a warning of future cancer cases because his exposure was below the widely recognized annual limit for nuclear workers. Japan uses the same 100 millisievert threshold in deciding whether to allow evacuees to return to their homes near the plant.