Hitomi Matsunaga1, Makiko Orita1, Yasuyuki Taira1, Takashi Kudo2, Hisayoshi Kondo3, Shunichi Yamashita4, Noboru Takamura1. 1. Department of Global Health, Medicine and Welfare, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. 2. Department of Isotope Medicine, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. 3. Division of Scientific Data Registry, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. 4. Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify residents' intentions to return (ITR) to Tomioka town, Fukushima Prefecture; and their risk perception of the health effects of radiation exposure as stratified by gender and generation. METHODS: Of almost 8000 residents who were 20 years of age or older and who had lived, prior to the accident, in the zones of Tomioka town where residents were permitted to return, 1860 were included in the analysis. For the analysis, the residents were divided into 4 groups which were stratified by gender and age: older males (over 50 years), young males (20-49 years), older females (over 50 years), and young females (20-49 years). RESULTS: ITR was found to be significantly lower in young males, young females, and older females than in older males. Conversely, young and older females had significantly higher levels of anxiety about drinking tap water and consuming food collected in Tomioka town. Young and older females also had greater concerns about adverse health effects on themselves and their offspring due to living in Tomioka town. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that special attention should be paid to younger residents, particularly to young females, with regard to recovery from a nuclear disaster.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify residents' intentions to return (ITR) to Tomioka town, Fukushima Prefecture; and their risk perception of the health effects of radiation exposure as stratified by gender and generation. METHODS: Of almost 8000 residents who were 20 years of age or older and who had lived, prior to the accident, in the zones of Tomioka town where residents were permitted to return, 1860 were included in the analysis. For the analysis, the residents were divided into 4 groups which were stratified by gender and age: older males (over 50 years), young males (20-49 years), older females (over 50 years), and young females (20-49 years). RESULTS: ITR was found to be significantly lower in young males, young females, and older females than in older males. Conversely, young and older females had significantly higher levels of anxiety about drinking tap water and consuming food collected in Tomioka town. Young and older females also had greater concerns about adverse health effects on themselves and their offspring due to living in Tomioka town. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that special attention should be paid to younger residents, particularly to young females, with regard to recovery from a nuclear disaster.
Entities:
Keywords:
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station; Tomioka town; intention to return (ITR)
Authors: Hitomi Matsunaga; Makiko Orita; Mengjie Liu; Yuya Kashiwazaki; Yasuyuki Taira; Noboru Takamura Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-04 Impact factor: 3.390