Methods of estimating cost of harm to humans caused by radiation accidents

The paper presents analysis of methods of cost estimating the harm to humans caused by radiation accidents. To evaluate the prevented harm to people of the Fukushima Prefecture evacuated from areas surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi NPP and lived in clean areas from 2011 till 2017 four models: were selected. Avoided collective doses to the evacuees necessary for cost estimating were calculated by researchers of IBRAE RAN (Moscow). The highest monetary equivalent of the harm was obtained with the parameter given in NUREG 1530 Rev.1. This parameter is based on the amount of money US population is willing to pay for reducing the risk of death. This parameter is used by various agencies to justify arrangements towards radiation impacts reduction. Values of cost estimates calculated with the use of other three models - the Russian radiation safety standards (NRB-99/2009), UK model COCO-2 and the method developed by researchers of Fukushima - are similar and about ten times lower than the estimate calculated with the US model. The analysis demonstrates that value of possible harm to members of the public will depend on GNI (gross national income) per capita in the state where possible radiation accident may occur. The health damage prevented due to temporary evacuation carried out in certain areas of Fukushima Prefecture proved to be significantly lower than the damage caused by the evacuation in these territories.