Radiation Risk and Features of Its Perception

Abstract

The public perception of radiation risk, which intensified after the accident at the Fukushima NPP (Japan), is examined. Now not only is it necessary to increase the safety of nuclear power but serious attention must be devoted to the public response to radiation risk. Analysis of sociological studies shows that the information factor plays a decisive role in the intensification of the perception of radiation risk via the creation of a negative social stereotype in respect to nuclear power as a whole. It is proposed that the communication approach to risk assessment and interpretation when informing the public be closely tied to a level-3 probabilistic safety analysis of objects using atomic energy.