Perception of Radiation Risk and Willingness to Return Home Following Decontamination

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  • MURAKAMI Michio
    Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo Department of Health Risk Communication, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University
  • ONO Kyoko
    National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
  • NAKATANI Jun
    Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

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Other Title
  • 放射性物質のリスク認知と除染後の故郷への帰還意志の関係

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Abstract

More than 100,000 people have been evacuated their hometowns as a result of Fukushima accident. In this study, we investigated whether radiation risk perceptions and beliefs about the importance of happiness affected willingness to return home as a general attitude among laypeople. We provided participants with two types of risk information, namely, additional cancer risk and additional effective doses, and identified factors governing differences in willingness to return home as a function of information type. Willingness to return home was affected by factors related to perceptions of dread risk regarding radiation, a lack of knowledge about radiation, and a lack of trust in either the government or science. On the other hand, the perception of unknown risk and the importance of happiness related to family or community life were less influential. Differences in personal perception of dread risk regarding radiation had a greater effect on willingness to return home than differences in risk levels presented to participants. Some participants who experienced an intuitive dread of radiation, or lacked knowledge about radiation or trust in the government or science perceived radiation risks as higher when additional effective dose, rather than corresponding additional cancer risk, was provided as risk information.

Journal

  • ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

    ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 28 (3), 193-210, 2015

    SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, JAPAN

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