Risk communication activities of JAEA after the Fukushima Daiichi accident

Takashita, Hirofumi ; Itabashi, Kiyoshi 

JAEA has held explanatory meetings on radiation and its health effects in Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures, and have implemented risk communication with Fukushima residents during the whole-body counting examinations. The main purpose of these activities is to reduce the residents' anxiety and concerns about radiation risk. Questionnaire surveys were conducted as part of those activities. From the results, we found that most participants and examinees understood our explanation and experienced a reduction in anxiety, and the items of anxiety and important points of information do not change dramatically even as the areas are varied. In the future risk communication activities to alleviate residents' anxiety, the explanation of radiation exposure and its health effects and food contamination is essential. Useful information such as radiation exposure reduction methods should also be provided. Active listening and sympathizing with affected residents are important in risk communication.