Report on “Radiation Disaster Recovery Studies”

Course: Radioactivity Social Recovery Course
Name: Tsegmed Otgonchimeg

Regarding “Radiation Disaster Recovery Studies”
Radiation is a difficult term to explain even though we are exposed to it from oursurrounding in our natural environment. On the other hand, as technology advancement we also
get benefits from radiological applications in medicine, industry, and agriculture. However, thechances of radiation accidents or potential terrorist related threats are also a concern in the recentyears. So, the uncertainty and complexity of radiation disaster causing more public fear, potential
human health risks and environmental effects. Hence our world needs future global leaders andexperts who are adequately trained in radiation disaster recovery with high responsibility andcommitment. After Fukushima radiation accident, Phoenix Leader Education Program, whichaims to prepare future experts in post-radiation disaster recovery, was initiated by Hiroshima
university in 2011 for renaissance from radiation disaster and supported by MEXT (Ministry ofEducation, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan). That gave me a chance to study inRadioactivity Social Recovery Course in Program.
After five-year enrolling in Phoenix Leader Education Program, I appreciate so much as I
could learn based on real experiences from experts, who engaged in radiation disaster activities
during the accident happened in Fukushima almost eleven years ago. More importantly, I learned
not only in the field of social recovery and rehabilitation after radiation disaster but also in radiation
disaster medicine and environmental protection. Besides many useful lectures in school fromglobal experts, I have had many opportunities to join short-term training courses and field trips inTokyo, Ibaraki and Fukushima and many international conferences and symposiums in radiation
protection and safety in Japan and USA and especially the long-term virtual internship in Nuclear
Energy commission of Mongolia (NEC, 2021) with the opportunity to gain practical work
experience at professional level in line with my studies and interests.
The Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 was considered the first triple disaster(earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident) that happened in history. The spread out of radioactive
materials from the explosion of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has led to not only
environmental contamination but also health and social problems. Aa a result of this radiation
disaster, both domestic and foreign consumers were reluctant to purchase agricultural products
made in Fukushima (Fukushima Prefecture, 2016). Therefore, fears of contamination have affectedmany of Fukushima`s local industries such as food and agricultural sectors.
For government authorities, the issue of assessing the level of radioactive contamination in
the soil, even after decontamination, evaluating the level of radiation safety in local agricultural
products has become urgent. So high cost and strict radiation monitoring tests were conducted onfoods and agricultural products from Fukushima and only after safety is confirmed are the products
shipped to the market (Fukushima Prefecture, 2013).
Although the safety of foods and products were supported by various kinds of data, suchas radiation monitoring tests, Japanese consumers are still hesitant to purchase agricultural andaquatic products from Fukushima ( Hangui, 2014; Fukushima Prefecture, 2016; Consumers Affairs
Agency, 2017). It may have been advisable to refrain from consuming Fukushima products
immediately after the disaster because of the widespread and unreliable, reputational damaging
information regarding radioactive contamination. Thus, it is clear that the fears of radiation caused

by the accident at the nuclear power plant created an economic crisis for multiple industries andcommunities, especially those reliant on food industries.
Hence, through my doctoral thesis, we examined whether Japanese consumers havenegative implicit attitudes towards agricultural and aquatic products from the Fukushima region
after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, which may help to facilitate in therecovery process after the radiation disaster.
Furthermore, the research was significant in enabling a review and understanding issues
relating to radiation concerns and addressing public perceptions on risks and actual risks inreigniting social recovery and environmental remediation and the aftermath of radiation disaster.
The research also illustrated the approach to engaging the public in recovery from radiation
exposure concerns in day-to-day activities. Among the long-term initiatives in the management ofradiation social recovery is adapting a cohesive and holistic approach in restoring sustainable
livelihood and social re-integration. The research also illustrated a need to publicize evidence
screened reports for radioactive contamination in cases of radiation disasters to avert social stigma
resulting from consumers' overcautious behaviors and prevent reputational damage. Hence
manufacturing companies and farmers can utilize this research to understand factors that may
cause negative implicit attitudes on their product, such as human cognition, based on their PVD orgerm aversion. For example majority of consumers today are adopting green consumerism; hence
adopting such strategies may positively impact consumers' attitudes towards an company's product.

References:
1. Consumers Affairs Agency (2017). Shokuhin to Houshanou Ni Kansuru Risk
Communication

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topics/main-cat1/sub-cat1-

Suite.

Retrievedfrom:http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/4/fuhyou/20170224-09_shouhisha.pdf

2. Fukushima Prefecture (2013). Radiation Monitoring Test Results. Retrieved from:http://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/sec/21045e/shoku-radi-kensa.html
3. Fukushima Prefecture (2016). Fukushima-Ken Fuhyo Fuka Taisaku kyoka Senryaku.
Retrieved from: https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/164199.pdf
4. Hangui, S. (2014). Severe damage to the agricultural economy of Fukushima prefecture asa result of the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear disaster: consequences to theshipment and distribution stages of fruits and vegetables in the year 2011. Fukushima
Agricul.Technology Centre Kenkyu Hokoku-sho, 126–129.
Title of Doctoral Thesis
Implicit Attitudes about Agricultural and Aquatic Products from Fukushima depend on whereConsumers Reside
Summary of Doctoral ThesisThis thesis focuses on the assessment of Japanese consumers’ implicit attitudes towards
agricultural and aquatic products from the Fukushima region. Chapter 1 provides an overview ofresearch as well as the research problems, purpose and hypotheses and reviews key theoretical
approaches to implicit and explicit attitudes. Chapter 2 discusses methodological approaches toimplicit and explicit attitudes assessments, with a focus on the Implicit Association Test (IAT) andself-report survey methods (e.g, Likert‐type scale) which were used in the empirical studies.
Chapter 3 (study 1) assesses whether Japanese consumers have negative implicit attitudes towards
products from the Fukushima region and whether these are independent of their explicit attitudes.
While the results of the study suggested that consumers have relatively negative implicit attitudes
towards products from Fukushima, although their explicit attitudes are positive. This divergence
was predominantly observed in the region near to Fukushima (i.e., Tokyo). These findings
supported our hypothesis that it is implicit negative attitudes rather than explicit negative attitudes
that underlie the hesitancy to purchase products from Fukushima. Chapter 4 (Study 2) assessedsimilar questions to Study 1 and explored the individual differences in the formation of these
implicit attitudes towards products from Fukushima in terms of the Perceived Vulnerability toDisease (PVD). The results suggested that the negative implicit attitudes towards Fukushima
products were attenuated (but still persistent) in participants with relatively low germ aversion inPVD. However, there was a large effect size amongst participants with high aversion to germs.
Chapter 5 is a general discussion which summarizes the findings and discusses the outcomes ofthis research.
Other thesis published in academic research journals
1. Tsegmed, O., Taoka, D., Qi, J. and Ariga, A. (2019), “Implicit attitudes about agriculturaland aquatic products from Fukushima depend on where consumers reside”, Frontiers in
Psychology, Vol. 10, p. 515, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00515.