Radioactivity & Radiation Quantitative Research Prepared for RPII 26 th August 2013

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Radioactivity & Radiation Quantitative Research Prepared for RPII 26 th August 2013"

Austen Barrett
5 years ago
Views:

1 Radioactivity & Radiation Quantitative Research Prepared for RPII th August 0 1.

2 Objectives of this study Why? The key objective of the research is to quantify the level of concern in the population in relation to radiation and radioactivity, and evaluate the awareness of the organisation RPII. How? 1,000 interviews were conducted amongst a nationally representative sample of all adults aged +. All interviews were conducted using Millward Brown s face to face omnibus. When? Interviews were conducted between 8 th June and 10 th July 0. Very important: While we are including data from 004 and 010, the change in methodology from telephone to face-to-face in 0 make comparisons invalid. It is difficult to attribute changes in data to genuine shifts in people s attitude or to the change in methodology. In the public domain results from 0 should be published in isolation..

3 Whom did we interview? Base: All Adults + nationally representative of ROI (n=1,000) Gender Age Social Class Region Male ABC1 40 Dublin Rest of Leinster Female CDE Munster F 7 Conn/Ulster 18 3.

Overall, less than half of the population have concerns about radioactivity or radiation in Ireland Base: All Adults + (n=1,000) Nov* 04 June 10 July Very concerned (4) 1 14 14 4 31 3 37

4 Overall, less than half of the population have concerns about radioactivity or radiation in Ireland Base: All Adults + (n=1,000) Nov* 04 June 10 July Very concerned (4) Fairly concerned (3) Not very concerned () Not concerned at all (1) 4 3 Mean score (1-4) Q.1 To what extent are you concerned about radioactivity or radiation in Ireland. Are you

5 Levels of concern are polarised by age older females are more concerned while younger males are least concerned. Dublin and Conn/Ulster regions are showing highest levels of concern Base: All Adults + (n=1,000) July Male (11) <3 GENDER/AGE SOCIAL CLASS REGION Male (314) 3+ Female (1) <3 Female (334) 3+ ABC1 (401) CDE (4) Dublin (8) ROL () Munster (79) Conn/ Ulster (177) Very concerned (4) Fairly concerned (3) Not very concerned () Not concerned at all (1) Mean score (1-4) Q.1 To what extent are you concerned about radio activity or radiation in Ireland. Are you

6 Radon gas continues to achieve highest levels of concern. Concerns about mobile phones is matching other key concerns Sellafield, nuclear accident Base: All who are very/fairly concerned at Q.1 (n=370) June 010 July 0 Radon gas 31 Radon gas 3 How Sellafield affects Ireland 9 How Sellafield affects Ireland 30 Mobile phone masts Possibility of nuclear accident abroad An actual nuclear accident occurring abroad Mobile phones International transportation of nuclear materials Mobile phone masts Possibility of nuclear accident Mobile phones International transportation of nuclear materials 30 8 Use of radioactive equipment in hospitals or x-rays Use of radioactive equipment in hospitals or x-rays 1 Fracking n/a Fracking Other 8 Other 1 9. Q. What aspects of radioactivity or radiation are of concern to you? Spontaneous mentions

7 Different aspects impacting on different demographics radon gas achieving highest levels of concern amongst older men and in Rest of Leinster. ABC1 s are more concerned than CDEs Base: All who are very/fairly concerned at Q.1 (n=370) Radon gas July 0 3 GENDER/AGE SOCIAL CLASS REGION Male Male Female Female Conn/ <3 3+ <3 3+ ABC1 CDE Dublin ROL Munster Ulster (49) (100) (14) (3) (3) (189) (119) (7) (9) (7) How Sellafield affects Ireland Mobile phone masts Possibility of nuclear accident abroad Mobile phones Transportation of nuclear materials Use of radioactive equipment in hospitals or x-rays Fracking Other Q. What aspects of radioactivity or radiation are of concern to you? Spontaneous mentions

8 Radon gas in home is considered less of a risk than Sellafield, Nuclear power and mobile phone masts Base: All Adults + (n=1,000) JULY 0 No Risk at all (1) () (3) (4) Very High Risk () Don t Know Mean (1-) Pollution from Sellafield Nuclear power stations abroad Radon gas in home Mobile phone masts Mobile phones Chest x-ray Q.3 I am going to read a list of items and would like you to rate one on a scale of 1 to where poses a very high risk to your health and 1 poses no risk at all. How do you rate

9 Those who are concerned about radioactivity and radiation Ireland tend to be concerned about most items when prompted. Significantly higher levels of concern of radon gas in the home in Conn/Ulster than other regions Base: All Adults aged + July 0 Perceived Risk Top two Boxes (Score 4 and ) Nuclear power stations abroad 40 Male <3 (11) GENDER/AGE SOCIAL CLASS REGION Male 3+ (314) Female <3 (1) Female 3+ (334) ABC1 (401) CDE (4) Dublin (8) ROL () Munster (79) Conn/ Ulster (177) RADIOACTIVITY Not Con- Concern cern (Net) (Net) (370) (79) Pollution from Sellafield Mobile phone masts Radon gas in home Mobile phones Chest x-ray Q.3 I am going to read a list of items and would like you to rate one on a scale of 1 to where poses a very high risk to your health and 1 poses no risk at all. How do you rate

10 Radon gas awareness is achieving almost total penetration Base: All aged + (1,000) July* 0 Unaware 14 8 Aware *Different question used in July 0 and statements added to provide total awareness figure June 010 November Aware 7 Aware Unaware 3 Unaware Q.4 Have you heard of radon gas, before today?

While awareness is high, depth of knowledge is low with only one in seven claiming to know a lot about it 49 Base: All aged + (1,000) I have heard of radon gas and would consider myself an

have never heard of radon gas before today July 0 34 37 Those that have a reasonable knowledge of radio gas (n=484) Men U3 years 1 Men +3 years 3 Women U3 years 40 Women +3 years 49 ABC1

11 While awareness is high, depth of knowledge is low with only one in seven claiming to know a lot about it 49 Base: All aged + (1,000) I have heard of radon gas and would consider myself an expert in the area I have heard of radon gas and know a lot about it I have heard of radon gas and know a little bit about it I have heard of radon gas but I don t know much about it I have never heard of radon gas before today July Those that have a reasonable knowledge of radio gas (n=484) Men U3 years 1 Men +3 years 3 Women U3 years 40 Women +3 years 49 ABC1 CDE 44 Dublin 0 Rest of Leinster 43 Munster 49 Conn/Ulster Concern about radioactivity 1 Heard of RPII 7 Radon gas is a high risk to your health 11. Q.4 Have you heard of radon gas, before today?

12 Despite high awareness, only one in three are concerned about the presence of radon gas in their home Base: All Adults + Who Have Heard of Radon Gas (n=81) Nov 04 (N=77) June 10 (N=74) July (N=81) Very concerned (4) Fairly concerned (3) Not very concerned () Not concerned at all (1) 0 4 Mean score Net concern Q. To what extent are you concerned about the presence of radon gas in your home?

13 Only half of people that perceive radon gas to be a high risk to their health is concerned about radon gas in their home people continue to distance themselves from radon gas being present in their home Base: All aged + (1,000) JUNE 010 JULY 0 Perceived risk of radon gas to your health Concern about radon gas in your home Perceived risk of radon gas to your health Concern about radon gas in your home 14 Very concerned (4) Very High Risk () 1 8 Very concerned (4) Very High Risk () 34 9 Fairly concerned (3) (4) 1 Fairly concerned (3) (4) (3) 1 30 Not very concerned () (3) () 38 Not very concerned () () No Risk At All (1) Not concerned at all (1) No Risk At All (1) 17 4 Not concerned at all (1). Q.3 I am going to read a list of items and would like you to rate one on a scale of 1 to where poses a very high risk to your health and 1 poses no risk at all. How do you rate Q. To what extent are you concerned about the presence of radon gas in your home?

14 Older females in Conn/Ulster are concerned about radon gas in their home. Similar to 010 Base: All Who Heard of Radon Gas (n=81) Very concerned (4) July (n=8) 8 Male <3 Males 3+ Gender/ Age Social Class Region Females <3 Females 3+ ABC1 CDE Dublin Rest of Leinster Munster Conn/ Ulster Concern about Radioactivity (Q1) Concern (Net) Not Concerned (Net) Radon Gas Health Risk (Q3) High Risk (net) Low Risk (net) Fairly concerned (3) Not very concerned () Not concerned at all (1) Mean score.18 Net concern Q. To what extent are you concerned about the presence of radon gas in your home?

15 Those that are most concerned about radon gas in their home are more likely to have their home tested. Their awareness of a body responsible is also higher Base: All aware of radon gas (n=81) Who had their homes tested (n=17) Men 19 Female Yes ABC1 1 CDE 19 Munster 33 No 71 Dependent children 4 Heard about radon gas 4 Very concerned About radon gas at home 40 Awareness of radon institute. Q. Have you ever had your home tested for radon gas?

In line with concern about radon gas in their home, those older women in Conn/Ulster are more likely to get their homes tested in the future Base: All aware of radon gas who have not had their homes

16 In line with concern about radon gas in their home, those older women in Conn/Ulster are more likely to get their homes tested in the future Base: All aware of radon gas who have not had their homes tested (n=04) Gender/ Age Social Class Region June 10 July Male <3 (91) Males 3+ () Females <3 (78) Females 3+ (09) ABC1 (39) CDE (3) Dublin (190) Rest of Leinster () Munster (7) Conn/ Ulster () Very likely (4) Quite likely (3) Not very likely () Not at all likely (1) Mean score (1-4) Q.7 How likely are you to have your home tested for radon gas? Are you

17 There does appear to be a positive correlation between those who are concerned about radioactivity and risk of radon gas to their health and likelihood of getting their home tested Base: All Who aware of radon gas who have not had their homes tested (n=0) Dependent Children Level of concern of radioactivity Risk of radon gas to your health Level of concern for radon in home June 10 July Yes () No (389) Concerned (Net) (9) Not Concerned (Net) (33) High risk (Net) (19) Low risk (Net) (17) Concerned (Net) (03) Not Concerned (Net) (37) Very likely (4) Quite likely (3) Not very likely () Not at all likely (1) Mean score Q.7 How likely are you to have your home tested for radon gas? Are you

18 Reasons for not testing are different by group. Low awareness of what to do, who to go amongst those aware opportunity for RPII to increase knowledge Base: All Who Are Not Very/Not At All Likely to Have Home Tested (n=48) July 0 Not a priority at the moment June 010 July 0 Concerned about Radon Gas in Home (10) Aware of RPII (4) 7 Believe my home to be unaffected by radon gas Unaware of how to do it 0 Unaware of who to go to 7 18 Heard of it, but don t know enough about it 0 Don t believe its dangerous to my health 11 9 Too expensive to test Don t own my own home/not responsible for home Too expensive to get fixed n/a 4 Too disruptive - 3 Afraid of the consequences if the test results are high n/a 3 Low risk area n/a n/a n/a New home/radon barrier 3 n/a n/a n/a Other Q.8 Why are you not likely to have your home tested for radon gas?

19 There is some confusion around carbon monoxide poisoning and radon gas Base: All aware of radon gas n=81 July 0 Risk of Radon Gas in Health (30) Concerned about Radon Gas in Home (84) Cancer 47 7 Carbon monoxide poisoning 4 Lung cancer Asthma Pneumonia 7 7 Blindness 4 Heart Attack 4 No risk - - Indigestion 1 3 None that I am aware of Q.9 What risks, if any, does radon gas cause to your health?

Approx one in two still have concerns about nuclear accidents in the UK and risks from Sellafield Base: All aged + (1,000) A nuclear accident in the UK will have a catastrophic impact on my health A

20 Approx one in two still have concerns about nuclear accidents in the UK and risks from Sellafield Base: All aged + (1,000) A nuclear accident in the UK will have a catastrophic impact on my health A nuclear accident in the UK will have a significant impact on my health A nuclear accident in the UK will have some impact on my health Nuclear Accident In the UK Risks of Radon in Home vs Risk from Sellafield The risks from Radon gas in your own home are far greater than the risks from Sellafield The risks from radon gas in your own home are the same as the risks from Sellafied The risks from radon gas in your own home are much less than the risks from Sellafield 14 7 Radioactive sources are used a lot in medicine, industry and education in Ireland Radioactive sources are used a little in medicine, industry and education in Ireland Radioactive sources are not used at all in medicine, industry and education in Ireland Radioactive Sources in Industry A nuclear accident in the UK will have no impact on my health 7 33 I have no idea bout the use of radioactive sources in Ireland Q.10 Q1 Please tell me which one of the statements on this card you agree with?

21 People claiming to follow government guidelines in the event of a nuclear accident in the UK Base: All aged + n=1000) Follow government guidelines July 0 43 Watch news media 9 Return home and stay inside 0 Do nothing Relocate to friends or family s homes 11 Travel to another part of the country 10 No idea what to do/ n/a Other. Q. In the event of a nuclear accident in the UK, what would you do?

22 The EPA is achieving slightly higher levels of awareness than the RPII in relation to naming the correct organisation responsible All adults + Aware of Radon Gas (484) Had Home Tested (17) Department of Environment 11 Local Authority / County Council Department of Health 9 10 EPA / Environment Protection Agency HSE / Health Service Executive 7 4 RPII / Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland 7 Radiation Institute / Agency / Authority Radon Institute / Agency / Authority Q.14 What is the name of the organisation or body responsible for radiation protection in Ireland? Spontaneous mentions

23 Key Conclusions I Less than half of the population have concerns about radiation/radioactivity in Ireland. These tend to be older females living in Dublin and Connaught/Ulster. Radon gas achieves highest levels of spontaneous mention as key concern. Radon gas in people s home achieves lower levels of risk compared with pollution from Sellafield and Nuclear power stations abroad. The majority of people in Ireland are aware to some degree about radon gas, with 1 in two claiming to know a little or more about it. These tend to be those that have heard of the RPII and are concerned about radiation and radioactivity in Ireland. Despite this high awareness about radon gas, only one in three claim to be concerned about it in their home. One in five have had their home tested for radon gas and the majority of those that don t, are unlikely to have their home tested in the future. There is a higher incidence of radon testing amongst who are living in the Munster area and those who are concerned about radon gas in their home. The main reasons for not getting their home tested amongst that key group of those that are concerned about radon gas in their home is not a priority at the moment or lack of knowledge. Those that are aware of RPII claim their home to be unaffected 7.

24 Key Conclusions II One in four still believed that carbon monoxide poisoning is the key health risk from radon gas, however majority know that it is cancer or lung cancer. Approx. one in two people believe that have a nuclear accident in the UK will have a significant or catastrophic impact on their health. Only one in seven thing that radon gas is a far greater risk than Sellafield, the remainder perceive it as lower risk or don t know. For the first time people were asked spontaneously for the name of the organisation or body responsible for radiation protection in Ireland. Approx one in ten mention RPII (), Radiation Institute or Radon Agency Radiation. Just over one in three attribute it to a Government agency (Dept of Environment/Health, Local Council) while two in five don t know. Awareness of the RPII is higher amongst those that have had their home tested for radon gas. 8. Overall there is a proportion of the population who perceive radon gas as a health risk however the level of concern about radon gas being in their own home is lower, allowing people to de-personalise the issue. While awareness of radon gas is high, incidence of testing is low as people de-prioritise or deny that it is a problem. The more people are concerned about radiation and radon gas, the greater the level of knowledge of RPII and the level of testing, however this does appear to be declining in the population.

Radioactivity & Radiation Quantitative Research Summary Prepared for RPII, AD/FC

Radioactivity & Radiation Quantitative Research Summary Prepared for RPII, 2010 41110195 AD/FC Why and how did we conduct the quantitative research? Why? The key objective of the quantitative research