Lessons learned from radiation disasters

Abstract

The triple catastrophe that began in Japan on March 11, 2011 was unprecedented. In the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis deteriorated to a Level 7 nuclear accident, the most severe level reserved by the International Atomic Energy Association for accidents involving significant re- leases of radioactive material having the potential for extensive environmental contamination and health consequences. The evacuation zone encompassed 50,000 people living within 20 km of the facility. However, as occurred after the Chernobyl accident, additional communities with high levels of contamination were subsequently identified and evacuated.