A Few Comments about the Fukushima accident

Presentation to the

CEMP Workshop

July 25, 2011

Lynn R. Anspaugh

Radiobiology Division, University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Comparative releases of radionuclides, PBq

Radio-nuclide

HalfLife

ChernobylNuclear

weapons tests

Fukushima

131I 8.04 days ~1,760 675,000 ~140

134Cs 2.06 years ~47

137Cs 30.0 years ~85 948 ~9

From UNSCEAR (2011) and preliminary data from Japanese govt.

Comparative releases of radionuclides, PBq

Radio-nuclide

HalfLife

ChernobylNuclear

weapons tests

Fukushima

131I 8.04 days ~1,760 675,000 ~160

134Cs 2.06 years ~47 ~18

137Cs 30.0 years ~85 948 ~15

From UNSCEAR (2000, 2008) and data from Japanese government.

4

5

6Science 332:908 (May 20, 2011)

Two international dose reconstruction studies are started.

• IAEA/WHO/FAO initial evaluation of population exposures. Final report due at the end of October 2011.

• UNSCEAR assessment. Final report due during the third quarter 2013.

7

8Science 333:272 (July 15, 2011)