2016 Volume 9 Issue 2 Pages 91-102
As a result of the lessons from the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident of 2011, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) examined the management principles of radiation exposure dose in an emergency from the results reported in many documented reviews with an aim to prepare for a future accident in a nuclear facility.
The examination essentially included justifying and optimizing principles of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), justifying the upper limit of emergency exposure, and crisis control protocol of a nuclear facility disaster.
The MHLW promulgated the revised Ordinance on Prevention of Ionizing Radiation Hazards based on the examination results in August 2015.
I have introduced the examination results of the Food Safety Commission and the working group pertaining to risk management of low-dose radiation exposure after reviewing the documents describing influence of such exposure.
If we examine the exposure dose management policy of radiation workers, it is necessary to consider health effects resulting from chronic exposure to low-dose radiation as well as from acute exposure to high-dose radiation. Thus, it is necessary to diligently promote epidemiologic studies that provide long-term follow-up for the workers.
