Workers’ radiation exposure at Japanese nuclear facilities (2003)
In July this year (2004) the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) released figures relating to the radiation doses received by workers at Japanese nuclear facilities during the 2003 business year (April 2003 – March 2004). The report is entitled Situation Regarding Management of Radioactive Waste and Management of Radiation Doses of Workers in Radiation-Related Industries (our translation).As can be seen from the first chart, total doses increased compared to 2002. It was pointed out at the April 2002 Meeting of Contracting Parties under the Convention on Nuclear Safety that radiation doses in Japan were the highest in the world. Nothing in the latest figures would suggest that Japan will be able to report an improvement at the next meeting, which is to be held in 2005.
In the total increase of 11.7 person-sieverts, there was an increase of 11 person-sieverts at Boiling Water Reactors alone. The major cause was continuing work flowing from the TEPCO cover-ups revealed in 2002. This work included such things as inspections and the replacement of shrouds and recirculation pipes.
Comparing the NISA figures for the 15-20mSv and the 20-25mSv ranges with data compiled for nuclear power plant workers by the Radiation Effects Association, we see that the latter estimates are much higher. The REA estimates were 1,038 (15-20mSv) and 6 (20-25mSv) NPP workers respectively. This is because they take into account the fact that some people worked at more than one nuclear power plant.
As always, subcontractor workers bore the overwhelming bulk of the total dose and represented the overwhelming majority of the workers exposed
Mikiko Watanabe (CNIC)
| Annual Exposure at Nuclear Power Plants 1991-2003 |
Nuclear Power Plants 2003 | Reprocessing Plants 2003 |
| Nuclear Waste Facilities | Fuel Processing Facilities |
Annual Worker Exposure at Nuclear Power Plants 1991-2003 (including Fugen and Monju)
|
Year
|
Total Exposure (person sieverts)
|
Number of People
|
||||
|
Power Company
|
Sub-contractors
|
Total
|
Power Company
|
Sub-contractors
|
Total
|
|
|
1991
|
2.86
|
56.06
|
58.92
|
6,646
|
50,597
|
57,243
|
|
1992
|
2.92
|
63.53
|
66.45
|
7,002
|
56,806
|
63,808
|
|
1993
|
2.98
|
86.4
|
89.38
|
7,692
|
63,588
|
71,280
|
|
1994
|
2.66
|
64.63
|
67.29
|
8,030
|
62,456
|
70,486
|
|
1995
|
2.97
|
63.87
|
66.84
|
8,111
|
62,354
|
70,465
|
|
1996
|
3.15
|
69.32
|
72.47
|
8,357
|
63,739
|
72,096
|
|
1997
|
3.2
|
80.33
|
83.53
|
8,455
|
66,073
|
74,528
|
|
1998
|
3.23
|
71.81
|
75.04
|
8,303
|
59,959
|
68,262
|
|
1999
|
3.23
|
81.33
|
84.56
|
8,406
|
63,274
|
71,680
|
|
2000
|
3.31
|
77.93
|
81.24
|
8,499
|
60,290
|
68,789
|
|
2001
|
3.53
|
76.47
|
80
|
8,540
|
57,420
|
65,960
|
|
2002
|
3.55
|
81.62
|
85.17
|
8,394
|
57,400
|
65,794
|
|
2003
|
3.86
|
93
|
96.87
|
8,550
|
59,813
|
68,362
|
Worker Exposure at Nuclear Power Plants in 2003
|
NPP Name
|
Category
|
Distribution of exposure (people)
|
Total Exp.
|
Avg. Exp.
|
Max. Exp.
|
|||||
|
~ 5mSv
|
5~10mSv
|
10~15mSv
|
15~20mSv
|
20~25mSv
|
25mSv ~
|
(person Sv)
|
(mSv/person)
|
(mSv)
|
||
|
Tokai
|
EPCO
|
292
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
694
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.0
|
2.7
|
|
|
Total
|
986
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.0
|
2.7
|
|
|
Tokai II
|
EPCO
|
396
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.21
|
0.5
|
4.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
3,298
|
123
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3.02
|
0.9
|
13.1
|
|
|
Total
|
3,694
|
123
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3.23
|
0.8
|
13.1
|
|
|
Tsuruga
|
EPCO
|
422
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.21
|
0.5
|
5.5
|
|
Sub-con.
|
3,283
|
106
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3.07
|
0.9
|
17.6
|
|
|
Total
|
3,705
|
107
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3.28
|
0.9
|
17.6
|
|
|
Onagawa
|
EPCO
|
407
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.08
|
0.2
|
3.3
|
|
Sub-con.
|
2,158
|
91
|
52
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
2.64
|
1.1
|
19.0
|
|
|
Total
|
2,565
|
91
|
52
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
2.72
|
1.0
|
19.0
|
|
|
Fukushima I
|
EPCO
|
879
|
42
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.97
|
1.0
|
9.9
|
|
Sub-con.
|
7,438
|
936
|
421
|
193
|
0
|
0
|
21.66
|
2.4
|
19.4
|
|
|
Total
|
8,317
|
978
|
421
|
193
|
0
|
0
|
22.63
|
2.3
|
19.4
|
|
|
Fukushima II
|
EPCO
|
628
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.19
|
0.3
|
5.9
|
|
Sub-con.
|
5,363
|
421
|
169
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
8.24
|
1.4
|
19.8
|
|
|
Total
|
5,991
|
422
|
169
|
18
|
0
|
0
|
8.43
|
1.3
|
19.8
|
|
|
Kashiwazaki Kariwa
|
EPCO
|
983
|
9
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.53
|
0.5
|
14.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
5,385
|
478
|
290
|
178
|
0
|
0
|
13.78
|
2.2
|
19.7
|
|
|
Total
|
6,368
|
487
|
292
|
178
|
0
|
0
|
14.31
|
2.0
|
19.7
|
|
|
Hamaoka
|
EPCO
|
708
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.44
|
0.6
|
9.7
|
|
Sub-con.
|
3,543
|
390
|
289
|
118
|
0
|
0
|
10.61
|
2.4
|
19.2
|
|
|
Total
|
4,251
|
396
|
289
|
118
|
0
|
0
|
11.05
|
2.2
|
19.2
|
|
|
Shika
|
EPCO
|
272
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.10
|
0.4
|
6.8
|
|
Sub-con.
|
1,801
|
186
|
32
|
16
|
0
|
0
|
3.25
|
1.6
|
18.0
|
|
|
Total
|
2,073
|
188
|
32
|
16
|
0
|
0
|
3.36
|
1.5
|
18.0
|
|
|
Shimane
|
EPCO
|
331
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.29
|
0.9
|
9.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
2,226
|
210
|
63
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
4.01
|
1.6
|
17.2
|
|
|
Total
|
2,557
|
217
|
63
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
4.30
|
1.5
|
17.2
|
|
|
Tomari
|
EPCO
|
301
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.05
|
0.2
|
4.2
|
|
Sub-con.
|
1,626
|
28
|
7
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1.24
|
0.8
|
15.2
|
|
|
Total
|
1,927
|
28
|
7
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1.30
|
0.7
|
15.2
|
|
|
Mihama
|
EPCO
|
403
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.12
|
0.3
|
5.2
|
|
Sub-con.
|
2,810
|
102
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2.68
|
0.9
|
13.5
|
|
|
Total
|
3,213
|
103
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2.80
|
0.8
|
13.5
|
|
|
Takahama
|
EPCO
|
473
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.15
|
0.3
|
5.4
|
|
Sub-con.
|
3,149
|
220
|
35
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
4.63
|
1.4
|
16.4
|
|
|
Total
|
3,622
|
223
|
35
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
4.77
|
1.2
|
16.4
|
|
|
Ohi
|
EPCO
|
485
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.22
|
0.5
|
10.2
|
|
Sub-con.
|
2,740
|
227
|
57
|
13
|
0
|
0
|
4.81
|
1.6
|
18.6
|
|
|
Total
|
3,225
|
229
|
58
|
13
|
0
|
0
|
5.03
|
1.4
|
18.6
|
|
|
Ikata
|
EPCO
|
400
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.09
|
0.2
|
5.8
|
|
Sub-con.
|
2,254
|
108
|
28
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2.62
|
1.1
|
17.5
|
|
|
Total
|
2,654
|
109
|
28
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2.71
|
1.0
|
17.5
|
|
|
Genkai
|
EPCO
|
461
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.06
|
0.1
|
3.9
|
|
Sub-con.
|
2,802
|
130
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2.73
|
0.9
|
12.0
|
|
|
Total
|
3,263
|
130
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2.79
|
0.8
|
12.0
|
|
|
Sendai
|
EPCO
|
247
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.09
|
0.4
|
10.3
|
|
Sub-con.
|
1,845
|
182
|
45
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3.59
|
1.7
|
15.9
|
|
|
Total
|
2,092
|
186
|
46
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
3.68
|
1.6
|
15.9
|
|
|
Total Commercial
|
EPCO
|
8,088
|
79
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3.80
|
0.5
|
14.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
52,415
|
3,938
|
1,512
|
577
|
0
|
0
|
92.60
|
1.6
|
19.8
|
|
|
Total
|
60,503
|
4,017
|
1,516
|
577
|
0
|
0
|
96.41
|
1.4
|
19.8
|
|
|
Fugen
|
EPCO
|
143
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.06
|
0.4
|
5.4
|
|
Sub-con.
|
684
|
15
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.40
|
0.6
|
11.2
|
|
|
Total
|
827
|
16
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.46
|
0.5
|
11.2
|
|
|
Monju
|
EPCO
|
234
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
Sub-con.
|
670
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
|
Total
|
904
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
|
Grand Total
|
EPCO
|
8,465
|
80
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3.86
|
0.5
|
14.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
53,769
|
3,953
|
1,514
|
577
|
0
|
0
|
93.00
|
1.6
|
19.8
|
|
|
Total
|
62,234
|
4,033
|
1,518
|
577
|
0
|
0
|
96.87
|
1.4
|
19.8
|
|
Worker Exposure at Reprocessing Plants in 2003
|
Plant Name
|
Category
|
Distribution of exposure (people)
|
Total Exp.
|
Avg. Exp.
|
Max. Exp.
|
|||
|
~ 5mSv
|
5~10mSv
|
10~15mSv
|
15mSv ~
|
(person Sv)
|
(mSv/person)
|
(mSv)
|
||
|
Tokai-mura
|
Repro. Co.
|
492
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.05
|
0.1
|
4.3
|
|
Sub-con.
|
1,614
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0.15
|
0.1
|
6.2
|
|
|
Total
|
2,106
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
6.2
|
|
|
Rokkasho
|
Repro. Co.
|
618
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.04
|
0.1
|
3.8
|
|
Sub-con.
|
3,369
|
46
|
1
|
0
|
1.84
|
0.5
|
10.1
|
|
|
Total
|
3,987
|
46
|
1
|
0
|
1.88
|
0.5
|
10.1
|
|
|
Total
|
Repro. Co.
|
1,110
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.09
|
0.1
|
4.3
|
|
Sub-con.
|
4,983
|
49
|
1
|
0
|
1.99
|
0.4
|
10.1
|
|
|
Total
|
6,903
|
49
|
1
|
0
|
2.08
|
0.3
|
10.1
|
|
Worker Exposure at Nuclear Waste Facilities in 2003
|
Facility Name
|
Category
|
Distribution of exposure (people)
|
Total Exp.
|
Avg. Exp.
|
Max. Exp.
|
|
|
~ 5mSv
|
5mSv ~
|
(person Sv)
|
(mSv/person)
|
(mSv)
|
||
|
Rokkasho Waste Burial Facility
|
Company
|
64
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
Sub-con.
|
119
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
|
Total
|
183
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
|
Rokkasho Waste Management Facility
|
Company
|
198
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
|
Sub-con.
|
485
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
|
Total
|
683
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
|
|
JAERI Tokai Waste Burial Facility
|
Company
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
Sub-con.
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
|
Total
|
0
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
|
JAERI Oarai Waste Management Facility
|
Company
|
22
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.7
|
|
Sub-con.
|
244
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
|
|
Total
|
266
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
|
|
Total
|
Company
|
284
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.7
|
|
Sub-con.
|
848
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
|
|
Total
|
1,132
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
|
Worker Exposure at Nuclear Fuel Processing Plants in 2003
|
Plant Name
|
Category
|
Distribution of exposure (people)
|
Total Exp.
|
Avg. Exp.
|
Max. Exp.
|
|
|
~ 5mSv
|
5mSv ~
|
(person Sv)
|
(mSv/person)
|
(mSv)
|
||
|
Global Nuclear Fuel
|
Company
|
346
|
0
|
0.01
|
0.3
|
4.5
|
|
Sub-con.
|
295
|
0
|
0.03
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
|
|
Total
|
641
|
0
|
0.13
|
0.2
|
4.5
|
|
|
Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel
|
Company
|
274
|
0
|
0.11
|
0.4
|
3.6
|
|
Sub-con.
|
80
|
0
|
0.03
|
0.3
|
2.8
|
|
|
Total
|
354
|
0
|
0.13
|
0.4
|
3.6
|
|
|
Nuclear Fuel Industries, Tokai
|
Company
|
219
|
0
|
0.07
|
0.3
|
3.0
|
|
Sub-con.
|
100
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.4
|
|
|
Total
|
319
|
0
|
0.07
|
0.2
|
3.0
|
|
|
Nuclear Fuel Industries, Kumatori
|
Company
|
254
|
0
|
0.05
|
0.2
|
2.4
|
|
Sub-con.
|
217
|
0
|
0.02
|
0.1
|
2.4
|
|
|
Total
|
471
|
0
|
0.08
|
0.2
|
2.4
|
|
|
JNC Ningyo Toge Uranium Enrichment Facility
|
Company
|
69
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
|
Sub-con.
|
171
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.5
|
|
|
Total
|
240
|
0
|
0.00
|
0.0
|
0.5
|
|
|
Rokkasho Uranium Enrichment Facility
|
Company
|
160
|
0
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
|
Sub-con.
|
364
|
0
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.1
|
|
|
Total
|
524
|
0
|
0.01
|
0.0
|
1.1
|
|
|
Total
|
Company
|
1,322
|
0
|
0.34
|
0.3
|
4.5
|
|
Sub-con.
|
1,227
|
0
|
0.09
|
0.1
|
2.8
|
|
|
Total
|
2,549
|
0
|
0.42
|
0.2
|
4.5
|
|
