Risk Perception of Health Risks Associated with Radiation Exposure among Residents of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture

Keiko Oishi,Makiko Orita,Yasuyuki Taira,Yuya Kashiwazaki,Noboru Takamura,Hitomi Matsunaga

doi:10.3390/ijerph182413208

Abstract

Ten years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident on 11 March 2011. Okuma is a town hosting the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The evacuation order for Okuma was partially lifted in April 2019. To clarify factors associated with risk perceptions of radiation among the residents of Okuma, we conducted a questionnaire survey in January 2021. Our results revealed that resident anxieties regarding the health effects of radiation exposure from living in Okuma were independently associated with positive PCL-Specific score, recognition of the consultation services with radiation experts in the municipal government of Okuma, and planned request for consultation service regarding radiation exposure by radiation experts, along with being female and living with a child. It is important for radiation experts to promote periodic communication of risks with individuals on a small scale to provide accurate information about the health effects of radiation and to provide maternal and child healthcare services and support regarding child-rearing and radiation exposure, to reduce concerns about radiation exposure and facilitate healthy living and wellbeing in Okuma.

Highlights

Ten years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident on 11 March 2011
We identified factors associated with risk perception for the health effects of radiation using the chi-square test
19%, p < 0.01); those who do not know that the municipal government of Okuma provides a consultation service with radiation experts (58% vs. 49%, p < 0.01); and those who plan to request consultations with radiation experts (36% vs. 19%, p < 0.01) (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Ten years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident on 11 March 2011. At 20:50 that day, residents living within 2 km of the plant were ordered to evacuate This order was extended to a 3-km radius at 21:23 that day, to a 10-km radius on the morning of 12 March, and to a 20-km radius that afternoon [2]. These decisions have resulted in residents being forced into a long-term, widespread evacuation. The population of this town was 11,505, but the town was totally evacuated in the aftermath of the accident at the FDNPP

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