The Fukushima nuclear disaster is among the worst nuclear accidents in history. What environmental and public health effects can be expected from the widespread radiation contamination? Majia Holmer Nadesan offers a detailed look at the Fukushima disaster, examines evidence of contamination in Japan and North American, and reviews preliminary research on the human and environmental effects of the disaster. Her findings are contextualized in relation to historical and present understandings of ionizing radiation and genomic instability.