INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTIONICRP ref: 4820-4323-6623

March 12, 2012

One Year Anniversary of the North-eastern Japan Earthquake,Tsunami and Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Accident
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake off the eastern coast of Japan, and the resulting
tsunami, resulted in massive devastation along the coastline and the tragic loss ofapproximately 20,000 lives. The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was struckby the tsunami, leading to the release of radioactive materials into the environment.
One year later it is fitting to pause to reflect on the events on and since that day, toremember the great losses suffered by the Japanese, and to take stock of thecurrent situation.
At the moment there are many people who have not been able to return to theirhomes, schools, and places of work as evacuation orders are still in place. Although
there have been no acute deaths due to radiation, many people in Japan and abroad
are worried about the long term health effects of living in areas affected by therelease of radioactive materials, about eating food or using other products from
Fukushima prefecture, and about the potentially long-lasting social, psychological,
and economic effects of the accident.
Work is underway within the evacuated area to prepare, where possible, for people
to return to their homes. Clean-up efforts in the affected areas beyond theevacuated area are resulting in significantly improved living conditions there. Muchof this work has prioritised the protection of children, which is only natural given thespecial place they hold in society. Many other initiatives are focusing on the broader
question of recovery including a multi-partner Fukushima dialogue initiative in which
ICRP is playing an important role, helping to bring people with expertise andexperience in this area from Belarus, Norway and France to share their knowledge
directly with residents of Fukushima prefecture.
For protection of people living in the affected areas, ICRP continues to recommendthat a reference level in the lower part of the 1 – 20 mSv/year band be used to guide
optimisation of protection in the recovery phase during which many operations willcontinue to improve the situation. A reference level of 1 mSv/year, corresponding toa level of exposure considered "normal", is appropriate in the long term. Wheredoses are kept below these levels there should be no undue health concerns.

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Similarly, eating food and using other commodities where the radionuclide
concentrations are below internationally acceptable levels should be considered
safe.
ICRP has also looked at its own work in light of events over the last year. We arepreparing a set of initial lessons learned that will help us improve our own
recommendations. These should be finalised later this year. In addition, we are
beginning to examine how, over the course of the next few years, we will be able toimprove our recommendations related to emergency exposure situations andrecovery in the long term after a nuclear accident.
We are optimistic that, while 2011 was an extremely difficult year, 2012 will be a yearof recovery. There is no doubt that this recovery will continue for many years tocome, and ICRP will continue to be actively involved.
On behalf of the International Commission on Radiological Protection,

Claire Cousins
ICRP Chair

Christopher Clement
ICRP Scientific Secretary- 2 (2) -