Since the Fukushima accident, there has been an increasing discussion on post-accident radiation protection as well as nuclear regulation and management. This study assessed the general content of discussions during the chronic phases after the accident, and analyzed the changes over the years in discussion on radiation protection measures related to the accident by focusing on the meeting minutes of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan from 2012 to 2018 using the method of text mining. The analysis revealed that while the authority’s main focus was on regulation and management regarding the safety of nuclear power plants, in addition to emergency measures for the future (especially in matters such as evacuation), discussions were also held on radiation protection measures for residents and workers and risk communication in the period following the accident. The authority was observed to have dynamically tackled the issues that were regarded as most urgent after the accident and gradually shifted its focus to mid- to long-term issues. In the aftermath of a nuclear accident, it is important for the authorities responsible for nuclear regulation to deepen their knowledge of social measures such as evacuation, return of residents, and risk communication, and strengthen cooperation with experts from other fields.
Evaluation of radiation exposure from diet is necessary under the assumption of a virtual accident as a part of emergency preparedness. Here, we developed a model with complete consideration of the regional food trade using deposition data simulated by a transport model, and estimated the dietary intake of radionuclides and the effectiveness of regulation (e.g., restrictions on the distribution of foods) after the Fukushima accident and in virtual accident scenarios. We also evaluated the dilution factors (i.e., ratios of contaminated foods to consumed foods) and cost-effectiveness of regulation as basic information for setting regulatory values. The doses estimated under actual emission conditions were generally consistent with those observed in food-duplicate and market-basket surveys within a factor of three. Regulation of restricted food distribution resulted in reductions in the doses of 54–65% in the nearest large city to the nuclear power plant. The dilution factors under actual emission conditions were 4.4% for radioiodine and 2.7% for radiocesium, which are ~20 times lower than those used in the Japanese provisional regulation values after the Fukushima accident. Strict regulation worsened the cost-effectiveness for both radionuclides. This study highlights the significance and utility of the developed model for a risk analysis of emergency preparedness and regulation.
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