scholarly journals For the day when I can return: the future is one step away

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 58-64
Author(s):  
K. Kanno
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
One Step ◽  
The Media ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Village ◽  
The City

Iitate, a village in Fukushima Prefecture, suffered little damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck on 11 March 2011. However, all village residents were belatedly ordered to evacuate 1 month after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. My family and I had to evacuate to the city of Fukushima, located 40 km from our home in Iitate. This came at a time when my husband and I were planning to start research on Natsuhaze (a type of blueberry grown in Japan) after his retirement. There were conflicting reports. On one hand, the media reported that it was not possible to live in Fukushima. The village of Iitate organised a lecture by an expert to assuage the fear of the residents. The evacuation order 1 month after the disaster contradicted what the expert was saying, and appeared to amplify distrust among the residents. I tried to arrive at my own judgement by measuring the ambient radiation dose in and around my house. Participating in the International Commission on Radiological Protection dialogue seminars provided accurate understanding of the situation. Measurement of radiation doses of wild plants that my husband’s father had been cultivating for over 30 years has given me many insights, and I had no concerns about returning to Iitate.

scholarly journals The institutional structure for decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

2021 ◽  
pp. 014664532110153
Author(s):  
Hajimu Yamana
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Institutional Structure ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Government

This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. This article describes the institutional structure established for decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. To deal with the aftermath of the unprecedented nuclear accident in Fukushima, several responsible institutions such as Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) have worked together at the initiative of the Government of Japan. In this structure, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) implements the decommissioning due to its legal responsibility, while the essential direction and milestones are set by the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters of the Government of Japan. Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation, a government-affiliated organisation, oversees and facilitates the decommissioning by TEPCO, and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority regulates safety from an independent standpoint. The main basic elements essential for the success of this long-term project have been developed, such as the technical strategy, financial system, and organisational capability. Decommissioning is making progress.

scholarly journals Considerations and challenges in the ICRP dialogues

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 119-122
Author(s):  
T. Hanzawa
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
International Commission ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Simultaneous Interpretation ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The University ◽  
Dialogue Seminar ◽  
First Time

‘Yes I tried to explain, but residents couldn’t understand …’ This was the title of my presentation at the first International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dialogue seminar in November 2011 held at the Fukushima Prefectural Government office. The accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was triggered by the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. Initially, it was thought that Date city, 50–60 km away from the accident, would be safe, but unfortunately this was not the case due to the direction of the wind at the time of the accident. I reported on decontamination in the aftermath of the accident at the ICRP dialogue seminar, following an invitation from Dr. Niwa of the University of Kyoto and a member of ICRP. There were many participants from overseas, and it was the first time that I had attended a meeting with simultaneous interpretation. I still remember that I was slightly bewildered.

scholarly journals Radiological protection challenges facing business activities affected by a nuclear accident: some lessons from the management of the accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Schneider ◽  
J. Lochard ◽  
M. Maître ◽  
N. Ban ◽  
P. Croüail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Protective Actions ◽  
Radiological Monitoring ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

Lessons from the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant accident emphasize the difficulties for restoring the socio-economic activities in the affected areas. Among them, a series of radioligical protection challenges were noted, in particular concerning the protection of employees, the securing of the production and the guarantee provided to consumers of the radiological monitoring of products to restore their confidence. Based on case studies reporting the experience of employers deploying their activities in affected areas, an analysis of these radiological protection challenges has been performed. Characterizing the radiological situation was not always straightforward for the managers. With the help of radiological protection experts, protective actions have been identified and specific efforts have been devoted to provide information to employees and their families helping them to make their own judgement about the radiological situation. Respecting the decisions of employees and developing a radiological protection culture among them have proved to be efficient for restoring the business activities. Continuing or restoring the production not always manageable. It requires to develop dedicated radiological monitoring processes to ensure the radiological protection of workers and the quality of the production. Re-establishing the link with the consumers and organising the vigilance on the long-term were necessary for companies to maintain their production or develop new ones. Deploying a socio-economic programme for ensuring the community resilience in affected areas requires the adoption of governance mechanisms respecting ethical values to ensure the overall objective of protecting people and the environment against the risks of ionizing radiation and contributing to provide decent living and working conditions to the affected communities. It is of primary importance to rely on the involvement of local communities in the elaboration and deployment of the socio-economic activities with due considerations for ensuring the integrity of the communities, and respecting their choices.

The new mandate and work of ICRP Committee 4

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 214-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Cool
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
International Commission ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

Committee 4 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is charged with the development of principles and recommendations on radiological protection of people and the environment in all exposure situations. For the term beginning in July 2017, the Committee has a total of 18 members from 12 countries. The programme of work includes a wide range of activities in five major thematic areas. The first is the consolidation and preparation of reports elaborating application of the system of protection in existing exposure situations. Second is the continuation of work on emergency exposure situations, and ICRP updates to recommendations in light of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Third is examination of fundamentals of protection recommendations, including the ethical principles underlying the recommendations and application of those principles in practical decision making. Fourth is the new area of integration of protection of the environment into the system of protection. Finally, Committee 4 continues work to prepare specific topical reports on subjects in which additional information is useful to understand and apply the Commission’s recommendations in particular circumstances.

scholarly journals Increase in disaster-related deaths: risks and social impacts of evacuation

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hayakawa
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Social Problem ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Insufficient Response ◽  
Response Measures ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

In Fukushima Prefecture, disaster-related death is a social problem for individuals who were forced to leave their hometowns as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Disaster-related death is caused by stress, exhaustion, and worsening of pre-existing illnesses due to evacuation. The number of disaster-related deaths has reached almost 2000, and continues to rise. Prolonged uncertainty and deteriorating living conditions suggest no end to such deaths, although response measures have been taken to improve the situation. It is said that insufficient response measures were taken, in particular, during the transitional period between the emergency phase and the reconstruction phase. There is a need to apply the lessons learned in planning for evacuation after a nuclear hazard, considering radiological protection as well as risks associated with evacuation.

scholarly journals Lifting of evacuation orders and subsequent efforts in Japan

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Arima
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Japanese Government ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Individual Dose ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi ◽  
The Government

With confirmation of the cold shutdown conditions of the nuclear reactors after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the Japanese Government reclassified the areas under evacuation orders as follows: (1) difficult-to-return zones (>50 mSv y−1), (2) restricted residence zones (20–50 mSv y−1), and (3) zones in preparation for lifting of the evacuation order (<20 mSv y−1). The Government continued its initiatives towards reconstruction of Fukushima, and has lifted evacuation orders in Zones 2 and 3. In terms of radiological protection, the Government emphasised its policy of placing importance on individual dose, and promoted the assignment of consultants in each municipality.

scholarly journals From a policy perspective: what is at stake?

2021 ◽  
pp. 014664532110068
Author(s):  
N. Ban
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Radiation Monitoring ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Radiological Protection ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Policy Perspective ◽  
Fukushima Daiichi

This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. What is at stake? It was one of the most frequently asked questions in a series of fora with concerned parties on the rehabilitation of living conditions in the aftermath of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. It was obvious that radioactive contamination was the source of the problem, and people were at a loss over how to cope with the situation. Various measures were taken under such circumstances, including detailed radiation monitoring, a decontamination programme to reduce the level of radiation in the living environment, and activities related to communication about radiation risk. Nevertheless, this question was asked repeatedly. Measures against radiation exposure were certainly necessary, but it is a reality that they were not enough to solve the difficulties experienced by people in the affected areas. This article presents the author's personal view of the underlying reasons for this, and discusses the way to facilitate recovery after a nuclear accident.

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