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Assessment of Radiation Risk Perception and Interest in Tritiated Water among Returnees to and Evacuees from Tomioka Town within 20 km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

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  • Xu Xiao

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Hitomi Matsunaga

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Makiko Orita

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Yuya Kashiwazaki

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Yasuyuki Taira

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Thu Zar Win

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Jacques Lochard

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

  • Thierry Schneider

    (Nuclear Protection Evaluation Center (CEPN), 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France)

  • Noboru Takamura

    (Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan)

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate radiation risk perception, mental health, and interest in tritiated water among evacuees from and returnees to Tomioka town, Japan, as well as to evaluate the intention to return (ITR) among evacuees living inside and outside Fukushima Prefecture. Of the 1728 respondents, 318 (18.4%) and 1203 (69.6%) participants reported living outside and inside Fukushima Prefecture, and 207 (12.0%) reported living in Tomioka. The ITR was not significantly different between those who lived inside and outside the prefecture among the evacuees. Similarly, there were no significant differences in radiation risk perception, mental health, and interest in tritiated water. However, the evacuees were independently associated with a motivation to learn about tritiated water (OR = 1.242, 95%Cl: 1.041–1.438, p = 0.016), reluctance to consume food from Tomioka (OR = 1.635, 95%Cl: 1.372–1.948, p < 0.001), and concern that adverse health effects would occur because of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident (OR = 1.279, 95%Cl: 1.055–1.550, p = 0.012) compared to returnees, according to logistic regression analysis. Interestingly, the returnees were found to have better mental health but lower life satisfaction than the evacuees. These findings suggest the importance of ongoing risk communication about radiation exposure and tritiated water among residents regardless of their place of residency.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu Xiao & Hitomi Matsunaga & Makiko Orita & Yuya Kashiwazaki & Yasuyuki Taira & Thu Zar Win & Jacques Lochard & Thierry Schneider & Noboru Takamura, 2023. "Assessment of Radiation Risk Perception and Interest in Tritiated Water among Returnees to and Evacuees from Tomioka Town within 20 km of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2690-:d:1055901
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yajing Shen & Shiyan Lou & Xiujuan Zhao & Kuai Peng Ip & Hui Xu & Jingwen Zhang, 2020. "Factors Impacting Risk Perception under Typhoon Disaster in Macao SAR, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Hitomi Matsunaga & Makiko Orita & Mengjie Liu & Yuya Kashiwazaki & Yasuyuki Taira & Noboru Takamura, 2022. "Evaluation of Residents’ Timing of Return to or New Settlement in Kawauchi Village, at 10 Years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-11, January.
    3. James Flynn & Paul Slovic & C. K. Mertz, 1994. "Gender, Race, and Perception of Environmental Health Risks," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(6), pages 1101-1108, December.
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