Collaboration of local government and experts responding to increase in environmental radiation level due to the nuclear disaster: focusing on their activities and latest radiological discussion

Iimoto, Takeshi; Nunokawa, Jun; Fujii, Hirofumi; Takashima, Ryuta; Hashimoto, Makoto; Fukuhara, Teruyuki; Yajima, Takashi; Matsuzawa, H.; Kurosawa, Kazutaka; Yanagawa, Yukihide; Someya, Seiichi

doi:10.1093/rpd/ncv279

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The basic or logistical terms, such as IAEA, radioactive strontium, natural background radiation, and half-life, were familiar to residents of Tokyo. We think this is partially attributable to higher education level among residents of Tokyo and continuing environmental contamination with radioactive substances in the Tokyo metropolitan area [ 5 , 6 ]. In terms of the geographical difference, a previous study showed that students in Miyagi had higher levels of trust in institutions as compared to that among students in Tokyo [ 17 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although some parts of the Kanto area continue to show elevated environmental radiation levels, the ambient dose rate and radioactive contamination of foodstuffs produced inside the city have been monitored [ 5 ]. Iimoto et al reported that representative ambient dose rates around residential areas have almost returned to the original pre-accident levels because of the decontamination activities, natural washout, and the low effective half-lives of radioactivity [ 6 ]. In 2003, the Food Safety Basic Law was established in Japan to address food safety issues such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan

Yoshida

Isogai

et al. 2017

Environ Health Prev Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the level of perception of the technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Aichi, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in Japan. Miyagi and Fukushima were selected as devastated area by Great East Japan Earthquake. Tokyo and Aichi were selected as control. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were selected as the A-bombed area.MethodsA total of 1030 respondents, 172, 173, 171, 173, 171, and 170, respectively, were surveyed. Differences in the recognition level of technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures were assessed.ResultsThe highest recognition levels were reported by the respondents from Fukushima (17 items). Those from Miyagi scored the second highest recognition levels (10 out of the 17 terms); the second highest recognition levels for the remaining seven terms were marked by the respondents of Tokyo. Respondents in the Tohoku region had a better recognition for the technical terminology relevant to the effect of radiation on the human body.ConclusionsOur findings indicate a need for continued, comprehensive risk communication pertaining to health hazards of radiation exposure in Tohoku region. Concerted efforts by central/local governments and other stakeholders are required to allay the anxiety/stress related to radiation exposure among the residents.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan

Yoshida

Isogai

et al. 2017

Environ Health Prev Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Screening to determine contamination was accomplished primarily with the use of hand-held scanners and whole-body counter technologies. Surveillance of radionuclide contamination in the food supply and the environment was used and continues to be used to model predicted biological exposures in the population ( 112 – 114 ). While there is an increasing body of evidence that the exposure levels received from radionuclide fallout from Fukushima were too low to increase cancer risk, there is significant unresolved psychosocial and mental stress in the population experiencing the event and over 350,000 individuals are currently being monitored for possible effects of low-dose radiation over their lifespans ( 115 ).…”

Section: Fukushima and Beyondmentioning

confidence: 99%

State-of-the-Art Advances in Radiation Biodosimetry for Mass Casualty Events Involving Radiation Exposure

Sproull

Camphausen

2016

Radiation Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With the possibility of large-scale terrorist attacks around the world, the need for modeling and development of new medical countermeasures for potential future chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) has been well established. Project Bioshield, initiated in 2004, provided a framework to develop and expedite research in the field of CBRN exposures. To respond to large-scale population exposures from a nuclear event or radiation dispersal device (RDD), new methods for determining received dose using biological modeling became necessary. The field of biodosimetry has advanced significantly beyond this original initiative, with expansion into the fields of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and transcriptomics. Studies are ongoing to evaluate the use of lymphocyte kinetics for dose assessment, as well as the development of field-deployable EPR technology. In addition, expansion of traditional cytogenetic assessment methods through the use of automated platforms and the development of laboratory surge capacity networks have helped to advance our biodefense preparedness. In this review of the latest advances in the field of biodosimetry we evaluate our progress and identify areas that still need to be addressed to achieve true field-deployment readiness.

show abstract

“…The accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) after the Great East-Japan Earthquake (11 March 2011) elevated the background level of environmental radiation in the Tokyo metropolitan area to some degree. Kashiwa city, located inside the metropolitan area of Tokyo and located ~200 km south of the NPP site, with a population of ~0.4 million, was particularly affected [ 1 – 6 ]. The ambient dose equivalent rate in the city immediately after the accident was ~0.1–1 μSv/h, and the maximum natural background level was ~0.04 μSv/h at that time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooperation process between a local government and experts in official voluntary decontamination of environmental radioactivity

Iimoto

Fujii

Someya

et al. 2018

Journal of Radiation Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Kashiwa city, inside the Tokyo metropolitan area and located ~200 km south of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, received a raised environmental ambient radiation dose due to the disaster relative to the rest of area. In this paper, the challenging process of the official voluntary decontamination activity in Kashiwa city, Chiba prefecture, which was carried out with strong cooperation between a local government and experts, is described and reviewed in terms of the effectiveness of the radiation protection. The support system for the official voluntary decontamination work was constructed by the citizens. It was completed within ~15 months after the accident, by way of the following five main steps. (i) A local forum was organized, commencing an open discussion. (ii) (a) Some civic groups started their own activities independent of the national and local governments' policies and measures, and (b) Kashiwa city office held information symposia and risk communication meetings with key persons as a kind of stakeholders as well as education and training of official leaders for voluntary decontamination work. (iii) Joint positive discussion and work projects between civic groups and the local government were started by key personnel. (iv) Local government planned and fixed its official decontamination strategy based on the results of several open discussions. (v) A guidance book for official voluntary decontamination by citizens was distributed by Kashiwa city office. The systematic framework for voluntary decontamination by citizens in Kashiwa city was developed through cooperation between a local government and decontamination experts, which was rare at that time. The authors believe that the process is valuable and should be shared with experts from various fields around the world.

show abstract

Collaboration of local government and experts responding to increase in environmental radiation level due to the nuclear disaster: focusing on their activities and latest radiological discussion

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan

Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan

State-of-the-Art Advances in Radiation Biodosimetry for Mass Casualty Events Involving Radiation Exposure

Cooperation process between a local government and experts in official voluntary decontamination of environmental radioactivity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About