If a core isn't near meltdown not much news comes up about about the tragic nuclear crisis of Fukushima. Norman Solomon has kept the pressure turned high on our nuclear safety issues since he began to run for Congress, but not many others have.

This is a sad story, but we'll hear more about radiation damage emitted by Fukushima after the tsunami struck as more time passes by.

Children living in the nuclear-hit Fukushima region of Japan are to undergo regular cancer tests for the rest of their lives

Fukushima prefectural government plans to carry out regular ultrasound examinations on all residents who were 18 years old or under when the nuclear crisis broke out on March 11.

The tests, designed to spot early symptoms of thyroid cancer, will be conducted every two years until the age of 20 and then every five years, according to Japanese news reports.

An estimated 360,000 young residents will be entitled to the free medical tests, which will start operating from October this year, with further in-depth urine and blood testing taking places if any abnormalities are discovered.

News of the lifelong testing follows growing concern surrounding the potential health impact of the still stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant on residents in surrounding regions.

Following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the power plant has leaked radiation into the surrounding soil, air and sea, prompting evacuation of the immediate area and a string of food scares relating to local produce.