ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Date: 7 November 2012

Advice for Australians on exposure to radiation arising from the nuclear accident in Japan

ARPANSA has assessed that the impact on the health of people living in Australia from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (NPP) accident is negligible. This is based on measurements and studies undertaken by ARPANSA since March 2011. In October 2012 ARPANSA published its findings in the technical report Assessment of the impact on Australia from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident.

In December 2011 the Japanese Government announced that all reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi site are in cold shutdown. This significantly reduces the likelihood of uncontrolled release of radiological materials to the environment.

The radiation levels in most parts of Japan, including Tokyo, are within the normal range of background radiation. More detailed travel advice for Japan, including the location of any restricted areas, can be found on the smartraveller website.

Radioactive contamination previous releases is still present in the immediate vicinity of the Fukushima Dai‑ichi site and has the continued potential to affect food produced in the area. The Japanese Government has measures in place to monitor and restrict the distribution of any contaminated foods. Details of the Japanese monitoring program are provided by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Advice on imported foodstuffs to Australia is available at Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), however it is not expected that contaminated foods will reach Australia.

ARPANSA continues to monitor the situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi site and will provide further advice if there is a significant change to the situation in Japan.

For more information please refer to ARPANSA’s Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on the accident please refer to ARPANSA's article: Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Links to Australian Government Sites:

Smartraveller Travel Advice – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Links to International Sites:

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
World Health Organization (WHO)
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)

For urgent media queries please contact:
media@arpansa.gov.au

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