This paper presents the results of a study on environmental monitoring during the transition and long-term phases following a major nuclear accident—topics addressed by the Emergency Monitoring Committee in the Society of Health Physics—and offers relevant recommendations. Given the scarcity of international case studies involving sustained monitoring during these phases, the post-Fukushima experience offers an exceptionally instructive reference. We reviewed detailed project records on environmental radiation mapping using airborne, vehicle-borne, and ground-based methods; food safety monitoring; and individual dose measurements. In particular, the Comprehensive Radiation Monitoring Plan developed after the Fukushima accident organized extensive, long-duration monitoring projects, resulting in a wealth of practical reports on both established and emerging technologies, as well as their field performance and experiences. Building on these lessons, we argue that establishing a formal yet adaptable framework for transition and long-term environmental monitoring is now imperative for future preparedness against large-scale nuclear accidents. Informed by the post-Fukushima record and expert discussions, the committee has drafted a set of recommendations outlining objectives, operational scope, and implementation logistics for transition and long-term monitoring.
Mikami et al. (Wed,) studied this question.