Some comments on dose assessment for members of the public after the Fukushima Daiichi npp accident

Abstract

This chapter describes the importance of dose assessment, either prospectively or retrospectively, for protection of members of the public exposed to radiation after the Fukushima NPP accident. There are three points. The first point is the implication of dose assessment. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has developed a system of radiation protection in which dose is the most important measure of radiological risk. In decision making regarding radiation protection, it is very important to understand the implications of dose assessment and to endeavor suitable protective measures based on the results of dose assessments. The second point is the radiological impact of the Fukushima accident. A large amount of radioactivity was released into the environment, but owing to extensive monitoring and protective measures, doses received by members of the public were fortunately not high, at the level of not causing any immediate health effects. We have much to learn from the accident, which includes (1) establishment of a better strategic system for emergency response, (2) reinforcement of environmental monitoring including in vivo counting of the human body, and (3) enhancement of better communication relevant to the accident. The third point is the effects of radiation exposure of children and infants. The protection of children in the accident aftermath has been a particular concern, and parents were extremely worried about the protection of their offspring. ICRP has provided age-dependent dose coefficients, so it was proposed that UNSCEAR should make the radiation risk of children more clear and that ICRP should revise its recommendation to include radiation protection scheme for children.