Risk perception of nuclear power plants among university students in Northeast Asia after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
To examine the perception of nuclear energy risks among Asian university students following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, a standardized questionnaire survey was conducted since July 2011 after the Fukushima disaster. A total of 1814 respondents from 18 universities in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan participated in this survey. It showed that students with the following characteristics had a higher preference for "a clear schedule to phase out nuclear power plant (NPP)": females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.44-2.34), in Japan (aOR = 2.81, 95% CI = 2.02-3.90), in China (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.04-2.09), and with perceived relative risks of cancer incidence greaterthan 1 (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.07-1.88). "If nuclear energy were phased out," the opinions on potential electricity shortage were as follows: Japan, aOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.40-0.69; China, aOR = 2.46, 95% CI = 1.75-3.45; and associated with academic majors (science/technology, aOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.31-0.59; medicine/health science, aOR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.49-0.84). The results carried essential messages for nuclear energy policy in East Asia.
Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Marco Chi Fong
MC
Ieong
Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jung-Chun
JC
Ho
Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Patricia Chiao-Tze
PC
Lee
University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
Tomiko
T
Hokama
University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
Tsugiko
T
Gima
School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.
Lingling
L
Luo
Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Myongsei
M
Sohn
Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
So Yoon
SY
Kim
Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan.
Shu-Fen
SF
Kao
Tzu Chi University, Hwalian, Taiwan.
Wanhwa Annie
WA
Hsieh
Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hung-Lun
HL
Chang
Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan Taipei Hospital, MOHW, New Taipei City, Taiwan peter.chang3@gmail.com.
Peter Wu-Shou
PW
Chang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia; D005260:Female; D062406:Fukushima Nuclear Accident; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009678:Nuclear Energy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Fukushima; Northeast Asia; nuclear energy; risk perception; university student