An application of cost-effectiveness analysis to restrict the damage caused by accidental release of radioactive material to the environment

A cost-effective analysis is applied to the problem of restricting the damage caused by an accidental release of radioactive material to the environment. The cost of remedial actions is compared with the monetary value of the collective dose avoided by these actions. After describing the methodology used, the results for various 'standard' accidents in PWR are given. Results are also given for various values of the monetary value of health damage ($ per man Sv). If remedial action were managed only on the basis of cost-effective analysis, an intervention plan for reducing social damage would be justified only for large and mean extent accidents; however, no account has been taken of psychological factors. (U.K.)