A large fraction of the affected area received 60,000 to 600,000 becquerels per square meter. 300,000 becquerels per square metre is 5 milliSieverts in the first year and the 10 year dose is 19 mSv — considerably higher than 1 mSv per year. The International Atomic Energy Agency clearly states, in its “Radiation Safety” booklet:
“The dose limits for practices are intended to ensure that no individual is committed to unacceptable risk due to radiation exposure. For the public the limit is 1 mSv in a year, or in special circumstances up to 5 mSv in a single year provided that the average does over five consecutive years does not exceed 1 mSv per year.”
– from thinkprogress.org
