Appraisal of the Measures to Avert Health Risks Caused by the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster : from the Perspectives of Costs and Effects of the Policies

Abstract

In response to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011, the Japanese government took actions to prevent people from excess exposure to radiation, including compulsory evacuation and relocation, prohibition of the distribution of contaminated foods, decontamination of residential and agricultural lands, and countermeasures in agriculture to reduce radioactive contamination of agricultural produce. This study assesses the effects and the costs of these policy measures. The effects are measured in terms of loss of life expectancy (LLE), which is calculated from the estimated reductions in cancer mortality caused by radioactive exposure. The costs are measured in monetary terms. The values for cost per life-year saved (CPLYS) are calculated for these policy measures, most of which exceed 100 million yen, some reaching a billion yen. The values are compared to the corresponding values in the case of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as well as to the value of the benefit per lifeyear saved. The policy measures are appraised from the perspectives of effciency and equity.