Examples of practical activities related to public understanding of radiation risk following the Fukushima nuclear accident

Abstract

After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, a number of practical activities related to public understanding (PU) of radiation risks were implemented inside and outside Fukushima Prefecture. The various noteworthy approaches and strategies behind those practical activities have not been organized and made explicit thus far. In this study, we have organized the noteworthy practical activities related to PU of radiation risks following the Fukushima nuclear accident, and discussed them mainly from the standpoints of communication strategies and approaches. As several examples demonstrate, efforts to contextualize and localize radiation risk in various forms were observed during post-accident recovery in Fukushima, and these efforts were confirmed, through actual experiences, to be an important component of effective PU activities of radiation risks. Community-based or citizen science approaches, such as having affected residents or citizens to measure radioactivity, have contributed to the PU of radiological situations, but some challenges, such as ethical aspects and the handling of uncertainty, have also been revealed. In the era of information and communications technology, a number of citizens, experts, and agencies have made social media a popular platform for disseminating radiation risk messages to the public and have demonstrated that social media can play an important role in providing radiological risk information. The knowledge and lessons learned from the practical activities discussed in this study can be useful in enhancing PU of risks not only radiation but also other stressors such as toxic chemicals, preparing future disasters and supporting risk communication plans during recovery periods after disasters.

Comparative study of nuclear post-accident management doctrines in Europe and North America

“…The production of communication tools such as the French website www.post-accident-nucleaire.fr or the guide to help the population living on a contaminated territory (ASN, 2020) based on a Japanese example (Kuroda et al, 2020) remain rare initiatives at the stage of preparation. Similarly, the notion of stakeholder involvement is clearly reflected in most of the doctrines examined, but very few indicate the form that such stakeholder involvement could take, despite the importance of such involvement (Naito et al, 2020). Stakeholder involvement at the preparatory stage, as is done within CODIRPA in France, remains an exception (Bertho et al, 2021).…”

Could virtual volunteerism enhance information resilience in a nuclear emergency? The potential role of disaster knowledge workers and virtual emergent groups

“…Lachance, 2021). Naito et al (2020) describe the Fukushima nuclear emergency as "the first large-scale nuclear disaster to occur in the era of ICT". The impact of ICT was reflected, among other ways, in how people became active on and through social media (see Slater et al, 2012).…”

Perceptions of Residents in Relation to Smartphone Applications to Promote Understanding of Radiation Exposure after the Fukushima Accident: A Cross-Sectional Study within and outside Fukushima Prefecture

“…The disaster-stricken municipalities have been working to establish a consultation system to help affected residents recover their livelihoods and to improve the attractiveness of the region for population recovery. They are promoting the migration of residents who have evacuated from their original areas but are hesitant to return to their homes, as well as those from outside their original areas [6,7]. The recovery of the lives of the affected people is a challenge not only related to radiation in the affected areas but also their well-being in general, such as living infrastructure and social capital.…”

“…Since the accident, radiation risk communication, namely, radiation dose measurement, radiation risk estimation, and tips for daily life in the contaminated area, have been carried out. For example, various organizations have conducted surveys of air radiation dose rates and exposure doses in the affected areas and published the data [7][8][9][10]. In Fukushima Prefecture, many monitoring sites have been set up, and the results are publicly available on the Nuclear Regulation Agency (NRA) Radiation Monitoring Information website [11].…”