Risk perception and public concerns of electromagnetic waves from cellular phones in Korea

Abstract

In this study, the difference between the risk perception of electromagnetic waves from cellular phones and the risk perception of other factors such as environment and food was analyzed. The cause of the difference in the psychological and social factors that affect the group with high risk perception of electromagnetic waves was also analyzed. A questionnaire survey on the risk perception of electromagnetic waves from cellular phones was carried out on 1001 subjects (men and women) over the age of 20. In the group with high risk perception of electromagnetic waves from cellular phones, women had higher risk perception than men. Logistic regression analysis, where the group with high risk perception of electromagnetic waves and the group with low risk perception were used as dependent variables, indicated that the risk perception of electromagnetic waves in women was 1.815 times statistically significantly higher than the risk perception of men (95% CI: 1.340-2.457). Also, high risk perception of electromagnetic waves from cellular phones was observed when the subjects considered that they had more personal knowledge (OR: 1.416, 95% CI: 1.216-1.648), that the seriousness of the risk to future generations was high (OR: 1.410, 95% CI: 1.234-1.611), and their outrage for the occurrence of accidents related to electromagnetic waves was high (OR: 1.460, 95% CI: 1.264-1.686). The results of this study need to be sufficiently considered and reflected in designing the risk communication strategies and communication methods for the preventive measures and advice on electromagnetic waves from cellular phones.

Factors Affecting Risk Perception of Electromagnetic Waves From 5G Network Base Stations

“…A lower level of trust in government policies was also associated with an increased risk perception of EMF sources [van Dongen et al, 2013]. Furthermore, Kim et al [2014] revealed that people who gave higher ratings on "personal knowledge" and "seriousness of the risk to future generations" also exhibited increased risk perception of EMF from mobile phones. Factors associated with decreased risk perception of EM waves from 5G network base stations were also identified.…”

“…And Kowall et al [2012] reported that female gender, a higher level of education, visibility of mobile phone base stations, and a higher level of negative emotions were associated with increased risk perception of mobile phone base stations. Furthermore, Kim et al [2014] found that higher ratings on a few risk characteristics such as "personal knowledge," "outrage," and "seriousness of the risk to future generations" were associated with increased risk perception of mobile phones.…”

Measuring personal exposure from 900MHz mobile phone base stations in Australia and Belgium using a novel personal distributed exposimeter

“…There are public concerns for potential health effects caused by the use of RF-EMF associated technologies, mobile phones and base stations (Kim et al, 2014;Tjong et al, 2015;Wiedemann et al, 2014). Furthermore, there is currently a strong need for quantification of personal exposures using objective measures for current and future human epidemiological studies (van Deventer et al, 2011).…”

Research Note—An Exploration of Risk Characteristics of Information Security Threats and Related Public Information Search Behavior

“…For personal use only, all rights reserved. and investment products (Duff 2014, Kim et al 2014, Morris 2011, Ngo et al 2013, Portell et al 2014, Sachse et al 2012, Wang et al 2011.…”