Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2015. Vol. 60. No. 5. P. 12-24

RADIATION SAFETY

A.V. Akleyev^1,2, V.K. Ivanov³, T.G. Sazykina⁴, S.M. Shinkarev⁵

Consequences of the Nuclear Accident at the “Fukushima-1” NPP (Overview Issued by the UNSCEAR in 2013)

1. Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine FMBA, Chelyabinsk, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 2. Chelyabinsk State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia; 3. A.F. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre, Obninsk, Russia; 4. Research and Production Association “Typhoon”, Obninsk, Russia; 5. A.I. Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of FMBA, Moscow, Russia

ABSTRACT

The UNSCEAR has recently summarized the overview data on the levels of radiation impacts resulting from the accident at the “Fukushima-1” NPP in 2011 and 2012, as well as on the risk of the development of radiation effects on human health and the impacts on the biota. In the annex to the overview, the dose estimates and the health effects for different population groups in Japan and, to a lesser degree, in the neighboring countries are presented. The Committee has analyzed a multitude of data sets provided by the official state organizations of Japan and other countries, and also the international organizations (IAEA, WHO, and other), on the levels of radiation exposure and deposition of the radioactive matter in each of the Japanese prefectures, concentrations of radionuclides in food products, exposures of the population and workers. In the process of the preparation of the overview, the Committee used the data and the literature published before October 2012. The overview also contains a chronological description of events at the Fukushima-1 NPP, including the events unfolding at the power plant; classification of the releases of radioactive materials into the atmosphere and the ocean; the measures taken for protection of the workers and the population from radiation exposures; estimation of exposure doses received by the population over the first year after the accident, prognosis for dose formation during the next ten years and throughout life; estimation of doses for workers engaged in the elimination of the consequences of the accident and in the clean-up operations during the period from March 11, 2011, and from October 31, 2012; a description of the health outcomes; assessment of exposure doses and effects on the biota inhabiting the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (fresh water and sea water).

Key words: nuclear power plant, Fukushima-1, releases, doses, biological effects, biota

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For citation: Akleyev AV, Ivanov VK, Sazykina TG, Shinkarev S.M. Consequences of the Nuclear Accident at the “Fukushima-1” NPP (Overview Issued by the UNSCEAR in 2013). Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2015;60(5):12-24. Russian.

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