Estimation of the contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the thyroid dose for the public in case of inhalation intake following the Fukushima accident

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present (1) the method of assessing the contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the thyroid for members of the public in Fukushima and neighbouring prefectures based on available data and (2) the results of a realistic assessment of such a contribution. The estimates of that contribution for the inhalation intake that occurred on the day of the main fallout (15 March 2011) are within 15 % of the dose to the thyroid from ¹³¹I. The contribution to the thyroid dose from intake of ¹³²Te is higher than that from the intake of ¹³³I by a factor of ∼3. The contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the thyroid dose for the public in the case of inhalation intake occurring as early as March 12 might be as great as 30–40 %.