Radiation protection issues on preparedness and response for a severe nuclear accident: experiences of the Fukushima accident.
Radiation protection issues on preparedness and response for a severe nuclear accident are discussed in this paper based on the experiences following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The criteria for use in nuclear emergencies in the Japanese emergency preparedness guide were based on the recommendations of International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publications 60 and 63. Although the decision-making process for implementing protective actions relied heavily on computer-based predictive models prior to the accident, urgent protective actions, such as evacuation and sheltering, were implemented effectively based on the plant conditions. As there were no recommendations and criteria for long-term protective actions in the emergency preparedness guide, the recommendations of ICRP Publications 103, 109, and 111 were taken into consideration in determining the temporary relocation of inhabitants of heavily contaminated areas. These recommendations were very useful in deciding the emergency protective actions to take in the early stages of the Fukushima accident. However, some suggestions have been made for improving emergency preparedness and response in the early stages of a severe nuclear accident.
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Safety Research Centre, 2-4 Shirakata-shirane, Tokaimura, Nakagun, 319-1195 Ibarakiken, Japan homma.toshimitsu@jaea.go.jp.
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Homma
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Safety Research Centre, 2-4 Shirakata-shirane, Tokaimura, Nakagun, 319-1195 Ibarakiken, Japan.
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Takahara
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Safety Research Centre, 2-4 Shirakata-shirane, Tokaimura, Nakagun, 319-1195 Ibarakiken, Japan.
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Kimura
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Safety Research Centre, 2-4 Shirakata-shirane, Tokaimura, Nakagun, 319-1195 Ibarakiken, Japan.
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Kinase
D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods*; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods*
Emergency response; Fukushima accident; Potential exposure; Protective actions; Radiological situation