A community-based risk communication approach on low-dose radiation effect

Abstract

A community-based risk communication approach for risk and risk-related factors regarding low-dose radiation has been started in 2013. In this approach, three groups that consist of local citizens, health nurse, midwife and nutritionist, and media reporters have been coordinated, and they discuss and examine a guidebook of health effects on low-dose radiation prepared by experts. Then they will revise the contents and expressions of the guidebook under expert’s support by themselves. An improved guidebook implementing stakeholders’ input will be expected through this process. In parallel to the community-based risk communication, an opinion survey has been conducted for the inhabitants of Tsuruga City in the Fukui prefecture to obtain people’s cognition about ionizing radiation and risk on health effects. The inhabitants of about 43 % show strong anxiety for radiation. They also show strong requirement for the risk criteria that should be specified by government/specialists. The current status and progress of the community-based risk communication approach are discussed, and a necessity of risk education regarding trans-science problem is presented.