Internal radiation exposure of Ground Self-Defense Force members involved in the management of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster

Authors

  • Yutaka Naoi, MD
  • Akira Fujikawa, MD
  • Yukishige Kyoto, MD
  • Naoaki Kunishima, MD
  • Masahiro Ono, RT
  • Yukie Watanabe, Nrs

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2013.0114

Keywords:

disaster, Fukushima Nuclear Plant, internal radiation exposure, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Abstract

When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) was dispatched nationally to Northeast area in Japan. The highly trained GSDF members were simultaneously assigned to various missions for the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants disaster. The missions of GSDF terminated on August 31, 2011. Special medical examinations were conducted for the members as they returned to each military unit. GSDF members who were assigned to the nuclear power plant were at risk of radiation exposure; therefore, pocket dosimeters were used to assess external radiation exposure. A few months after the mission was terminated, measurements of internal radiation exposure were performed. This is the first report of the internal exposure of GSDF members who worked in the restricted radiation contamination area. Here, we report the amounts of internal and external exposure of and the equipment used by the GSDF members.

Author Biographies

Yutaka Naoi, MD

Department of Radiology, Japan Self-Defence Forces Central Hospital, Ikejiri 1-2-24 Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan.

Akira Fujikawa, MD

Department of Radiology, Japan Self-Defence Forces Central Hospital, Ikejiri 1-2-24 Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan.

Yukishige Kyoto, MD

Department of Radiology, Japan Self-Defence Forces Central Hospital, Ikejiri 1-2-24 Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan.

Naoaki Kunishima, MD

Department of Radiology, Japan Self-Defence Forces Central Hospital, Ikejiri 1-2-24 Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan.

Masahiro Ono, RT

Department of Radiology, Japan Self-Defence Forces Central Hospital, Ikejiri 1-2-24 Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan.

Yukie Watanabe, Nrs

Department of Health Care Center, Japan Self-Defence Forces Central Hospital, Ikejiri 1-2-24 Setagayaku, Tokyo, Japan.

References

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ICRP: Conversion coefficients for use in radiological protection against external radiation. ICRP Publication 74. Ann ICRP. 1996; 26(3-4).

Available at http://www.nirs.go.jp/db/anzendb/RPD/mondal3j.php. Accessed April 2, 2013.

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Published

04/01/2013

How to Cite

Naoi, MD, Y., A. Fujikawa, MD, Y. Kyoto, MD, N. Kunishima, MD, M. Ono, RT, and Y. Watanabe, Nrs. “Internal Radiation Exposure of Ground Self-Defense Force Members Involved in the Management of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Disaster”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 8, no. 2, Apr. 2013, pp. 87-90, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2013.0114.

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2013): Spring

Section

Articles

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