Now, four years later, Japan has confirmed the first case of cancer stemming from that dangerous work.
The country's health ministry said Monday that a former Fukushima worker has been diagnosed with leukemia.
The unnamed man in his 30s worked at the plant from October 2012 to November 2013.
"This is a massive blow to the IAEA, which stated in September of this year that no discernible health effects due to the exposure to radiation released by the accident are to be expected," Greenpeace said in a statement.
IAEA is the International Atomic Energy Agency.
