Consequences of Fukushima Disaster upon a European Country. Marianne Leenders, Ronald de Groot, Irma de Vries, Jan Meulenbelt

Transcription

1 Consequences of Fukushima Disaster upon a European Country Marianne Leenders, Ronald de Groot, Irma de Vries, Jan Meulenbelt

2 Dutch National Poisons Information Center Ministries VWS I&M ELI RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment UMCU University Medical Center Utrecht NVIC National Poisons Information Center

3 Activities of the Dutch NPIC related to ionising radiation Incident related activities Advise on treatment Advise concerning: iodineprofylaxis, shelter in place and evacuation Regular activities 24/7 on call Prepare treatment protocols for contaminated persons Prepare protocols and advice to prevent contamination Take part in exercises UMC dirty bomb exercise

4 Unit Planning and Advice nuclear (EPAn) FRONT OFFICE Chairman, vice-chairman, secretary Representatives of Back Offices and experts BACK OFFICE Radiological Information (RIVM/LSO) BACK OFFICE Medical Information (VWS) Support Steuncentra centres KFD Defense KNMI Riza Support centres RIVM/cGM RGF s - GHOR UMCU/NVIC

5 Fukushima, first weeks Front office mixed with experts from back offices and support centres Daily meetings and reports for the first 14 days after the incident Shortage of people with knowledge, they were working continuously

6 Questions Questions from dutch embassy in Tokio: Estimates of the release Consequences for dutch persons travelling through japan (locate everybody) Consequenses for dutch people living and working in Japan

7 Questions for NPIC Iodine profylaxis for people in Japan or going to Japan (or neighbouring countries) Monitoring of plains, personel and later consumer goods coming from Japan What about pharmaceuticals and cosmetics?

8 Health aspects Helpdesk for questions concerning health of returning visitors Flyer at the airport to inform people about possibility for screening Health check for people returning if necessary Schiphol Flyer GGD Japan Helpdesk cgm NVIC Questionnaire Reassurance Calamity hospital UMCU One person was screened: no contamination was measured

9 Communication Press: keep them informed and give accurate information Other experts and their comments on radio and television also give rise to questions

10 International International consultation and strategies in telephone conferences, organised by WHO/ EU DG Sanco= Directorate General for Health and Consumer Affairs/DG Energy Topics: Screening of aircraft Aircraft personel Travellers Handling goods from Japan Screening containers in megaports like Rotterdam

11 International Problems: There are no international values for non-food, responsibility lies with the national governments The intervention levels of different EU countries are not the same, some countries advice or take measures while others don t

12 Discussions Discussion about the source terms: Based on an estimated incidence of once in a million years Based on the possibility of postponing the release with 24 hours Based on a release in 4 hours time, not sustained release Reentry and recovery policy

13 Discussions Discussion about dutch structure of nuclear disaster management Discussion about the rationale of countermeasures Inventory meeting about declining professional expertise on health and safety concerning ionising radiation

14 Conclusions An incident with release of radioactive material at great distance has already a great impact on European countries After Fukushima: Ministries are more involved with radiation protection Consultation about harmonisation of countermeasures between neighbouring countries European Commission launches comprehensive risk and safety assessments ("stress tests") of the 143 nuclear power plants in the European Union Nuclear safety has been recognised throughout the EU as an issue of European, rather than only national dimension.