A Nordic preparedness guide for early clean-up in radioactively contaminated residential areas

Experience gained from environmental radiological measurements, experimentation and modelling over the past decade has been applied in the development of a Nordic emergency preparedness catalogue which can be used to overview the cost–benefit aspects of an early implementation of measures to reduce long-term external radiation doses to people living in a contaminated residential complex. The catalogue contains information on the dose-reductive effect of a number of actions which are thought to be particularly well suited for the task. The requirements, restrictions, implications and cost elements of each method are listed in a format which is easy to use in a comparative analysis. The data show that if action is taken soon after an accident, it is often possible at relatively little cost to reduce the lifetime external dose to inhabitants of a contaminated area by a factor of 10. The use of the catalogue is discussed in relation to internationally applied intervention levels and concepts as well as to non-radiological aspects.