Measures against increased environmental radiation dose by the TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident in some local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan area: focusing on examples of both Kashiwa and Nagareyama cities in Chiba prefecture

Abstract

The accident of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Cooperation (TEPCO) after the great east Japan earthquake (11 March 2011) elevated the background level of environmental radiation in Eastern Japan. Around the Tokyo metropolitan area, especially around Kashiwa and Nagareyama cities, the ambient dose equivalent rate has been significantly increased after the accident. Responding to strong requests from citizens, the local governments started to monitor the ambient dose equivalent rate precisely and officially, about 3 months after the accident had occurred. The two cities in cooperation with each other also organised a local forum supported by three radiation specialists. In this article, the activities of the local governments are introduced, with main focus on radiation monitoring and measurements. Topics are standardisation of environmental radiation measurements for ambient dose rate, dose mapping activity, investigation of foodstuff and drinking water, lending survey meters to citizens, etc. Based on the data and facts mainly gained by radiation monitoring, risk management and relating activity have been organised. 'Small consultation meetings in kindergartens', 'health consultation service for citizens', 'education meeting on radiation protection for teachers, medical staffs, local government staffs, and leaders of active volunteer parties' and 'decontamination activity', etc. are present key activities of the risk management and restoration around the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Environmental Radiation Status In and Around Tokyo Immediately After the TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

“…This activity has been based on the decision of a local forum of six cities including the two cities of Kashiwa and Nagareyama as the "Conference on Radiation Countermeasures in the Tohkatsu Area (CRCT)" [ 1 ].…”

“…The offi ce location and other detailed information of these three cities are listed in Table 5. 1 .…”

Feasibility study of an intervention program to enhance self-confidence of kindergarten teachers who deal with radiation-related health concerns from parents with young children

“…Mothers were most worried about food as a possible source of internal contamination [ 24 ]. Small consultation meetings were held in kindergartens by several specialists [ 25 ]; however, the effectiveness of these measures in targeting the staff members who usually field these concerns to reduce anxiety and enhance self-confidence has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to verify the feasibility of a novel intervention program targeting kindergarten teachers in order to enhance participant HL and self-confidence in dealing with radiation-related health concerns received from parents.…”

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

“…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.…”