Characteristics and recognition of guardians living in the urgent protective action planning zone of the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant, Saga Prefecture, Japan who wished to receive pre-distribution stable iodine for their children
Abstract Purpose:The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics and the awareness of nuclear prevention measures including prophylactic stable iodine (SI) of guardians of 0- to 6-year-old children living in the urgent protective action planning zone (UPZ) of the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant (GNPP), Japan. Methods:Of these 1172 guardians, 973 responded that they wished to receive pre-distribution of stable iodine (PDSI) and 199 did not wish to receive PDSI. Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that the following items were independently associated with guardians who wished to receive PDSI for their children: thinking that pregnant women should take prophylactic SI (odds ratio [OR]=6.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.62–9.35; p<0.01); wishing to participate in a lecture about the health effects of radiation exposure (OR=1.99, 95%CI: 1.40–2.82; p<0.01); thinking that SI can prevent exposure from all radionuclides (OR=1.93, 95%CI: 1.24–2.99; p<0.01); awareness of SI before the study (OR=1.91, 95%CI: 1.35–3.00; p<0.01); and anxiety about prophylactic SI for their children (OR=0.33, 95%CI: 0.20–0.55; p<0.01). The GNPP was one of the nuclear power plants in Japan that resumed operations after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011. Conclusion: These results suggest that some residents have incomplete knowledge about nuclear prevention, including SI. Therefore, it is essential to educate residents and communicate the health risks of radiation exposure with residents living around nuclear power plants. Furthermore, it is important to train specialists to educate and communicate with residents to prepare for a nuclear accident.