Unit cost and number of flexible containers for clean-up phase of decontamination for different method considered in the present analysis.

<p>^aNumber of flexible containers used to store contaminated wastes generated by removal phase. The volume of a container is assumed to be 0.9 m³ and the cost of a flexible container is assumed to be 8,000 JPY/unit.</p><p>^bThe cost of the temporary storage per flexible container is assumed to be 20,000 JPY/unit.</p><p>^c Obtained from Fukushima [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075308#B10" target="_blank">10</a>].</p><p>^d Obtained from JAEA [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075308#B11" target="_blank">11</a>]. For the decontamination cost for F1, the unit cost was estimated considering the slope angle of the area based on the report.</p

Decontamination efficiencies for different decontamination methods

<p>^aThe values of the decontamination efficiency were estimated based on data on the efficiency of the aerial decontamination in the municipalities.</p><p>[17].</p

Relationship between the estimated cost of decontamination per person per unit area and the estimated annual external dose with decontamination in the special decontamination areas in Fukushima.

<p>Cost per person per unit area was calculated by the estimated decontamination cost divided by the population of the unit area. Population data are based on the 2010 Population Census.</p

Estimated air dose rate for the special decontamination areas in Fukushima as of April 1, 2014.

<p>Population data are based on the 2010 Population Census.</p

Relationship between the cumulated potential inhabitants and the estimated air dose rate in the special decontamination areas in Fukushima as of April 1, 2014.

<p>The cumulated potential inhabitants are based on the 2010 Population Census.</p

Target area of the present study.

<p>Target area of the present study.</p

Estimated trends of potential inhabitants returning to their former residence areas for different dose levels with and without decontamination.

<p>Population data are based on the 2010 Population Census, and demographic factors were not considered in this analysis.</p

Unit cost for storage phase of decontamination and total of all the unit costs considered in the present analysis.

<p>^aThree options are assumed for the interim storage: D1 assumes combustible waste to be subjected to volume reduction and different types of disposal for high-elution materials (isolation-type disposal) and low-elution materials (control-type disposal) are used. D2 assumes combustible waste to be subjected to volume reduction and isolation-type disposal for both high-elution and low-elution materials is used. D3 assumes no volume reduction and isolation-type disposal is used for all waste.</p><p>^bTotal consists of clean-up and storage costs.</p

Estimated costs of different decontamination methods for various land uses in the special decontamination areas in Fukushima.

<p>Estimated costs of different decontamination methods for various land uses in the special decontamination areas in Fukushima.</p

General characteristics of the special decontamination areas.

<p>^a Population is based on the 2010 Population Census [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075308#B18" target="_blank">18</a>]. The population in areas in which only the part of the municipality is affected was obtained by assuming the population to be proportional to the area.</p><p>^bEstimated Based on GIS 1-km mesh data</p