Lessons learnt by IRSN about the involvement of experts towards the population in contaminated areas in Fukushima Prefecture

Abstract

Since November 2011, Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) experts have participated in the International Commission on Radiological Protection's (ICRP) dialogue initiative for the rehabilitation of living conditions after the Fukushima accident. In 2013, IRSN and Centre d'étude sur l'Evaluation de la Protection dans le domaine Nucléaire (CEPN) launched a study to identify the main lessons that can be learned from these dialogues, and benefit French IRSN experts in the event of a postaccident situation. The main lesson is that in order to protect the inhabitants of contaminated areas efficiently, experts must work in cooperation with local actors to develop a co-expertise process. The availability of measurement devices for inhabitants is crucial to allow them to assess their own radiological situation. Measuring radioactivity makes it visible, and allows individuals to discuss the results in their communities and develop local projects to improve their daily life. Eventually, inhabitants create a practical radiological protection culture to manage their situation. However, helping people to protect themselves does not mean that authorities and experts have no responsibilities, and this calls for strong ethical principles such as not making decisions for people about their future. To be helpful, scientists need to understand that, as necessary as radiation protection is, it is not the only problem that inhabitants are facing and it cannot control people's lives. Radiation protection experts must commit themselves to be at the service of individuals and the community, and the issues they want to address.

Les démarches d’implication des parties prenantes dans la gestion des situations post-accidentelles − quels enseignements pour la préparation ?

“…L'analyse de ces dialogues et des actions initiées avec des acteurs locaux suite à l'accident de Fukushima met en avant l'importance du processus de co-expertise permettant d'engager une évaluation commune de la situation radiologique menée à la fois par les experts, les autorités locales ainsi que la population. Ces actions ont également souligné le rôle de l'expert dans l'accompagnement des communautés locales et ont aidé au développement d'une culture pratique de radioprotection au sein de la population (Kotoba, 2015 ;Ban, 2016 ;Rollinger et al, 2016 ;Lochard et al, 2019 ;Schneider et al, 2019).…”