Article

Changes in radiation protection measures after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident: evaluation of meeting minutes of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan

¹ Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960–1295, Japan
² Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960–1295, Japan
³ Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Minamisoma, Fukushima, 975–0033, Japan

^* Corresponding author: michio@fmu.ac.jp

Received: 22 May 2020
Accepted: 15 November 2020

Abstract

Since the Fukushima accident, there has been an increasing discussion on post-accident radiation protection as well as nuclear regulation and management. This study assessed the general content of discussions during the chronic phases after the accident, and analyzed the changes over the years in discussion on radiation protection measures related to the accident by focusing on the meeting minutes of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, Japan from 2012 to 2018 using the method of text mining. The analysis revealed that while the authority’s main focus was on regulation and management regarding the safety of nuclear power plants, in addition to emergency measures for the future (especially in matters such as evacuation), discussions were also held on radiation protection measures for residents and workers and risk communication in the period following the accident. The authority was observed to have dynamically tackled the issues that were regarded as most urgent after the accident and gradually shifted its focus to mid- to long-term issues. In the aftermath of a nuclear accident, it is important for the authorities responsible for nuclear regulation to deepen their knowledge of social measures such as evacuation, return of residents, and risk communication, and strengthen cooperation with experts from other fields.