Issue 9, 2012

Worldwide health effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident

Abstract

This study quantifies worldwide health effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident on 11 March 2011. Effects are quantified with a 3-D global atmospheric model driven by emission estimates and evaluated against daily worldwide Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) measurements and observed deposition rates. Inhalation exposure, ground-level external exposure, and atmospheric external exposure pathways of radioactive iodine-131, cesium-137, and cesium-134 released from Fukushima are accounted for using a linear no-threshold (LNT) model of human exposure. Exposure due to ingestion of contaminated food and water is estimated by extrapolation. We estimate an additional 130 (15–1100) cancer-related mortalities and 180 (24–1800) cancer-related morbidities incorporating uncertainties associated with the exposure–dose and dose–response models used in the study. We also discuss the LNT model's uncertainty at low doses. Sensitivities to emission rates, gas to particulate I-131 partitioning, and the mandatory evacuation radius around the plant are also explored, and may increase upper bound mortalities and morbidities in the ranges above to 1300 and 2500, respectively. Radiation exposure to workers at the plant is projected to result in 2 to 12 morbidities. An additional ∼600 mortalities have been reported due to non-radiological causes such as mandatory evacuations. Lastly, a hypothetical accident at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in California, USA with identical emissions to Fukushima was studied to analyze the influence of location and seasonality on the impact of a nuclear accident. This hypothetical accident may cause ∼25% more mortalities than Fukushima despite California having one fourth the local population density due to differing meteorological conditions.

Graphical abstract: Worldwide health effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident

Supplementary files

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Apr 2012
Accepted
26 Jun 2012
First published
17 Jul 2012

Energy Environ. Sci., 2012,5, 8743-8757

Worldwide health effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident

J. E. Ten Hoeve and M. Z. Jacobson, Energy Environ. Sci., 2012, 5, 8743 DOI: 10.1039/C2EE22019A

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