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Significant increase in ionising radiation around Tokyo

Japan Scientists: Radiation dose has been “significantly increased” around Tokyo metropolitan area after Fukushima http://enenews.com/japan-scientists-radiation-dose-has-been-significantly-increased-around-tokyo-metropolitan-area-after-fukushima 
 September 19th, 2012  
By ENENews   Title: MEASURES AGAINST INCREASED ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION DOSE BY THE TEPCO FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICHI NPP ACCIDENT IN SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA 
Source: Radiation Protection Dosimetry (Oxford Journals)
Author: Iimoto T, Fujii H, Oda S, Nakamura T, Hayashi R, Kuroda R, Furusawa M, Umekage T, Ohkubo Y.
Date: 2012 Aug 26

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.

September 21, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general