Preface

抄録

Just ten years ago, the world witnessed the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident and the severe impacts these had on the society and environment of eastern Japan. A wide range of research related to the nuclear accident has been conducted, with the results already released in many cases regarding the environmental impacts of the large amounts of radioactive substances emitted into the environment during that event. In addition, research is being carried out on sustainable community development, including the establishment of sustainable regional environments, reconstruction according to environmentally conscious principles and creation of disaster resilient regions. Such environmental emergency research has contributed greatly to environmental recovery in areas affected by the GEJE and nuclear accident and also to environmental emergency management for natural disasters after the GEJE. This special issue focuses on the progress in environmental emergency research after the GEJE and nuclear accident, and provides an integrated body of relevant scientific knowledge. The articles in this issue cover a wide range of studies addressing environmental emergency aspects such as post-disaster environmental impacts of pollutants, environmental recovery and management of disaster waste. Many articles have been provided by researchers of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and other organizations. We are profoundly grateful for their contribution of valuable scientific knowledge and technical expertise toward environmental restoration, and strongly hope that this information will be utilized in efforts towards disaster-resilience and environmental sustainability worldwide.

Guest Editors

Toshimasa OHARA

Seiji HAYASHI

Kazuki IIJIMA