Review of articles related to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station published in the Japanese Journal of Health Physics; Opinion and others (Secondary Publication)

Takahara, Shogo; Iimoto, Takeshi*; Igarashi, Takayuki*; Kawabata, Masako*

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 50(1), p.1 - 9, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2023.00703

The Health Physics Society of Japan established a working group to obtain insights and findings from articles related to the 1F accident, published in the Japanese Journal of Health Physics. This study describes the review results of 47 articles classified into the field without risk communication, environmental measurement and monitoring, radiation dose measurement and assessment, radiation medicine, and radioactive waste. The reviewed articles contain various insights and issues depending on the authors' standpoints and relevant social interests. As a result, the 1F accident relevant articles offer various discussion points depending on the authors' awareness of the issues, which give an opportunity to make reconsiderations on what kind of academic system health physics or radiation protection should be on the basis of the experiences from the 1F accident. Note that this is an English translation of an article published in Japanese Journal of Health Physics.

and study of biological effects on cancer cells in the presence of metallic materials during radiotherapy

Nagano, Takuya*; Matsuya, Yusuke; Kaida, Atsushi*; Nojima, Hitomi*; Furuta, Takuya; Sato, Kaoru; Yoshimura, Ryoichi*; Miura, Masahiko*

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 65(5), p.628 - 639, 2024/09

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrae062

In X-ray therapy, radiation regimen is planned to eliminate tumors while minimizing side effects on normal tissue. When irradiating the oral cavity, which includes dental metallic crowns, intense mucositis can occasionally be induced. However, the mechanism underlying the radiosensitization remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the radiosensitization mechanism using cell experiments and computational simulations. As a result, the enhancement ratio observed in the cell experiments was 1.2-1.4, which was found to be predominately attributed to local dose increase near metal. On the other hand, as a result of dose evaluation based on CT images as a preclinical test, it was found that the dose increase was underestimated due to the complex anatomical structure of the human body, and microscopic dose evaluation was necessary. This outcome contributes to the precise understanding of side effects on normal cells around metals.

A Source-related approach for discussion on using radionuclide-contaminated materials in post-accident rehabilitation

Miwa, Kazuji; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 48(2), p.68 - 76, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2022.00045

In the process of discussion on possibility of using radionuclide-contaminated soil and debris generated by radiation disasters, strategy on the proper management of radiation exposure protection while considering the source of the contaminated materials is necessary. We proposed five interpretations of radiation protection to contribute the promotion of discussion on possibility of using a part of low-level-radionuclide-contaminated soil and debris in post-accident rehabilitation. Interpretations I to III are based on the idea of "using a reference level to protect the public in post-accident rehabilitation," whereas IV and V are based on the idea of "using the dose constraint to protect the public in post-accident rehabilitation when the sources are handled in a planned activity."

External exposure assessment in the Fukushima accident area for governmental policy planning in Japan, 2; Matters to be attended for assessments of external exposure

Yoshimura, Kazuya; Sanada, Yukihisa; Sato, Rina; Nakayama, Mariko*; Tsubokura, Masaharu*

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 64(2), p.203 - 209, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrac088

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, individual exposure doses to residents have been assessed by many municipalities, governments and research institutes. Various methods including measurements with personal dosimeters and simulations have been used for this evaluation depending on purposes, but the information of assessments and methods has not been systematically organized. A comprehensive review of the knowledge and experiences of individual exposure doses assessments accumulated so far and understanding the characteristics of the assessment methods will be very useful for radiation protection and risk communication, following to governmental policy planning. We reviewed the efforts made by the Japanese government and research institutes to assess radiation doses to residents after the FDNPS accident in Part1. On the other hand, each method of assessing individual exposure doses includes uncertainties and points to be considered for the appropriate assessment. These knowledge and experiences are important for the assessment implementation and applying the assessment results to the governmental policy planning, and are summarized in Part2 of this article.

External exposure assessment in the Fukushima accident area for governmental policy planning in Japan, 1; Methodologies for personal dosimetry applied after the accident

Sanada, Yukihisa; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Sato, Rina; Nakayama, Mariko*; Tsubokura, Masaharu*

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 64(1), p.2 - 10, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrac079

The evacuation orderareas established due to the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings' (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) have been reorganized according to the decrease in ambient dose rates and the decontamination progress. The Japanese government decided to decontaminate the difficult-to-return areas and lift the evacuation order by 2030. This radiation protection strategy can be optimized by examining emergency exposure situations to date and the existing exposure after the accident. This article reviews the methods that can determine the individual radiation doses of residents who should return to their homes when the evacuation order is lifted in the specific reconstruction reproduction base area and the difficult-to-return areas outside this base area and summarizes the points to be considered when implementing these methods. In Part 1 of this article, we review the efforts made by the Japanese government and research institutes to assess radiation doses to residents after the FDNPP accident.

Analysis of the activities of the website "Question and Answer about radiation in daily life" after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and some lessons learned from it; To pass on this experience to the future

Kono, Takahiko; Tanaka, Masato*; Tanaka, Hitomi*; Shimo, Michikuni*; Torii, Hiroyuki*; Uno, Kazuko*

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 47(3), p.167 - 179, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2021.00346

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, artificial radionuclides such as radioactive cesium and iodine were released into the environment. It caused great anxiety not only in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant but also in other regions of the world. Some members of the Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS), a leading academic society in Japan in the field of radiation protection, volunteered to establish a website called "Question and Answer about radiation in Daily Life" shortly after the accident to help reduce the residents anxiety about the health effects of radiation. In August 2011, Committee for "Question and Answer about radiation in Daily Life" was established in JHPS, making the website-related activities a responsibility of JHPS. The Q&A website continued to respond to the questions from the general public with expertise and sincerity until February 2013 when the Committee members decided to end the activities because the number of questions received had gradually decreased with the passage of time. This paper aims to introduce the following: the activities of the Q&A website during the two years (2011-2013), the stance chosen for the activities, the information related to the website activities and the analysis of Twitter data. Building on the experience and the knowledge obtained from the activities, it also discusses issues and experiences that can be utilized in the initial response to emergencies for radiation protection experts as well as other fields.

Detection limit of electron spin resonance for Japanese deciduous tooth enamel and density separation method for enamel-dentine separation

Oka, Toshitaka; Takahashi, Atsushi*; Koarai, Kazuma; Kino, Yasushi*; Sekine, Tsutomu*; Shimizu, Yoshinaka*; Chiba, Mirei*; Suzuki, Toshihiko*; Osaka, Ken*; Sasaki, Keiichi*; et al.

Journal of Radiation Research (Internet), 63(4), p.609 - 614, 2022/07

AA2021-0724.pdf:0.68MB

https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrac033

Electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry is one of the most powerful tools for radiation dose reconstruction. The detection limit of this technique using human teeth is reported to be 56 mGy or 67 mGy; however, the absorbed dose of Fukushima residents after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident was estimated to be lower than this detection limit. Our aim is to assess the absorbed radiation dose of children in Fukushima Prefecture after the accident; therefore, it is important to estimate the detection limit for their teeth. The detection limit for enamel of deciduous teeth of Japanese children separated by the mechanical method is estimated to be 115.0 mGy. The density separation method can effectively separate enamel from third molars of Japanese people. As we have collected thousands of teeth from children in Fukushima, the present technique may be useful to examine their external absorbed dose after the FNPP accident.

The Japan Health Physics Society Guideline on Dose Monitoring for the Lens of the Eye

Yokoyama, Sumi*; Tsujimura, Norio; Hashimoto, Makoto; Yoshitomi, Hiroshi; Kato, Masahiro*; Kurosawa, Tadahiro*; Tatsuzaki, Hideo*; Sekiguchi, Hiroshi*; Koguchi, Yasuhiro*; Ono, Koji*; et al.

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 47(1), p.1 - 7, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2021.00276

Background: In Japan, new regulations that revise the dose limit for the lens of the eye (the lens), operational quantities, and measurement positions for the lens dose were enforced in April 2021. Based on the international safety standards, national guidelines, the results of the Radiation Safety Research Promotion Fund of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, and other studies, the Working Group of Radiation Protection Standardization Committee, the Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS) developed a guideline for radiation dose monitoring for the lens. Materials and Methods: The Working Group of the JHPS discussed the criteria of non-uniform exposure and the management criteria set to not exceed the dose limit for the lens. Results and Discussion: In July 2020, the JHPS guideline was published. The guideline consists of three parts: main text, explanations, and 26 questions. In the questions, the corresponding answers were prepared, and specific examples were provided to enable similar cases to be addressed. Conclusion: With the development of guideline on radiation dose monitoring of the lens, radiation managers and workers will be able to smoothly comply with revised regulations and optimise radiation protection.

Radiation monitoring in the residential environment; Time dependencies of air dose rate and Cs inventory

Yoshimura, Kazuya; Nakama, Shigeo; Fujiwara, Kenso

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 47(1), p.30 - 38, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2021.00199

The IRPA Young Generation Network; Activity report from the middle of 2018 to the beginning of 2021

Andresz, S.*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Ha, W.-H.*; Kabrt, F.*; Kono, Takahiko; Sez Muoz, M.*; Nusrat, O.*; Papp, C.*; Qiu, R.*; Bryant, P.*

Journal of Radiation Protection and Research, 46(3), p.143 - 150, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.14407/jrpr.2021.00080

The Young Generation Network (YGN) was officially established as part of the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) in the spring of 2018. Since then, it has been dedicated to a variety of activities to promote communication, collaboration and professional development of students and young professionals in the area of radiation protection and its allied fields. This article reports our recent activities from the middle of 2018 to the beginning of 2021, with highlights on some important events: (1) Joint JHPS-SRP-KARP Workshop of Young Generation Network (December 2019 in Japan); (2) Contribution to Nuclear Energy Agency Workshop on Optimization - Rethinking the Art of Reasonable (January 2020 in Portugal); (3) Survey on the impact of COVID-19 on radiation protection among IRPA YGN members (March 2020); (4) Contribution to IRPA15 (January-February 2021; online). The discussion and insight obtained from each activity are also summarized. The IRPA YGN will aim to achieve its on-going activities and continue to follow the ways paved in the Strategic Agenda and despite the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely, running an international survey (for example, on the usage of social media in radiation protection, and on the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic), engaging national YGNs, extending the network, finding new relationships with networks with an interest in the young generation and participation in (remote) events will be aspired for.