Divisions over radiation risk have been exposed after Fukushima

Nuclear energy: A hotter topic than ever

Mure Dickie and Clive Cookson examine for the Financial Times the divisions over what really constitutes radiation danger exposed by the Fukushima crisis and question, "at what point it will be safer to move a population away from the radiation or to limit its exposure by, for example, keeping children indoors and closing schools."

There are plans to make Fukushima a centre of radiation safety research. The prefectural government proposes to monitor the health of the population of more than two million, producing data for future study. The conclusions should prove invaluable for global energy policy and disaster preparedness.