Abstract
The Fukushima Health Management Survey (including the Basic Survey for external dose estimation and four detailed surveys) was launched after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The Basic Survey consists of a questionnaire that asks Fukushima Prefecture residents about their behavior in the first four months after the accident; and responses to the questionnaire have been returned from many residents. The individual external doses are estimated by using digitized behavior data and a computer program that included daily gamma ray dose rate maps drawn after the accident. The individual external doses of 421,394 residents for the first four months (excluding radiation workers) had a distribution as follows: 62.0%, <1 mSv; 94.0%, <2 mSv; 99.4%, <3 mSv. The arithmetic mean and maximum for the individual external doses were 0.8 and 25 mSv, respectively. While most dose estimation studies were based on typical scenarios of evacuation and time spent inside/outside, the Basic Survey estimated doses considering individually different personal behaviors. Thus, doses for some individuals who did not follow typical scenarios could be revealed. Even considering such extreme cases, the estimated external doses were generally low and no discernible increased incidence of radiation-related health effects is expected.
Highlights
Following the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (Fukushima NPP) accident, the Fukushima Prefectural Government and Fukushima Medical University started a health management survey for all Fukushima residents in 20111,2
As for non-evacuees, they used measurement datasets of the deposition density of radionuclides on the ground, and some computational models4. Since personal behaviors such as whereabouts and daily time-budgets were not considered for the dose estimation, only district or settlement average doses were given in the UNSCEAR report
The difference in response rate between the areas may reflect the concern of the participants based on their understanding of possible exposure to a higher gamma ray dose rate level, Figure 3
Summary
Following the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (Fukushima NPP) accident, the Fukushima Prefectural Government and Fukushima Medical University started a health management survey for all Fukushima residents (about two million people) in 20111,2. Dose estimations by using passive dosimeters distributed to residents upon their request5 Such activities were generally started several months after the accident. As for non-evacuees, they used measurement datasets of the deposition density of radionuclides on the ground, and some computational models4 Since personal behaviors such as whereabouts and daily time-budgets were not considered for the dose estimation, only district or settlement average doses were given in the UNSCEAR report
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