Dose assessment in the criticality accident at Tokai-mura

The present paper reviews a dose assessment carried out after the criticality accident that occurred on September 30, 1999 at JCO in Tokai-mura, Japan. In the accident, almost all doses were caused by external exposure to neutrons and gamma-rays emitted upon the fission of uranium. By a joint effort of Japanese experts in radiation dosimetry, a dose assessment was performed for neighboring residents, JCO employees including 3 workers who were at the accident spot, and emergency response personnel. The dose assessment was carried out using records of dosimeters, radiation monitoring data in and around the site, analysis of biological specimens, and computer simulation techniques. It was concluded from the results of the dose assessment that deterministic effects are not expected, except for the 3 heavily exposed workers, and that the probability of stochastic effects is very small and will be undetectable. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.