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 is to quantify the level of concern in the population in relation to radiation and radioactivity, and where possible, compare with metrics from 2004. How? 1,000 interviews were conducted amongst a nationally representative sample of adults aged 15+. All interviews were conducted on the June Catibus by Millward Brown Lansdowne s computer aided telephone (CATI) centre based in Dublin. When? Interviews were conducted between 2 nd June 8 th June 2010. 2.
The level of concern has fallen since 2004 currently people are less concerned about radiation than in 2004. Base: All Adults 15+ Nov* 04 June 10 Very concerned (4) Fairly concerned (3) 21 34 55 14 31 4 Concerned (NET) (4) Older Women (58) ABC1 s (4) Rest of Leinster (49) Not very concerned (2) Not concerned at all (1) 2 15 41 28 24 52 Not Concerned (NET) (52) Younger Men (1) ABC1 s (54) Munster (5) Don t know 3 2 Mean score 2.4 2.3 *November 2004 data fielded with TNS/MRBI Q.1 To what extent are you concerned about radioactivity or radiation in Ireland. Are you 4.
Radon gas and Sellafield are the top concerns about radioactivity and radiation in Ireland concern about radon has increased since 2004. Mobile phone masts rather than mobile phones are a concern Base: All who are very/fairly concerned at Q.1, n=450 Radon gas How Sellafield affects Ireland Mobile phone masts Possibility of a nuclear accident abroad An actual nuclear accident occurring abroad Mobile phones International transportation of nuclear materials Use of radioactive equipment in hospitals or x-rays Other Don t know June 2010 8 10 10 13 12 20 31 29 Older women (39) ABC1s (39) Conn/Ulster (34) Pollutions/Emissions; Microwaves, Pylons, Skin cancer Q.2 What aspects of radioactivity or radiation are of concern to you? Spontaneous mentions 5.
Similar to spontaneous mentions, radon gas and Sellafield achieve high levels of perceived risk to health while chest x- rays and mobile phones are perceived as a low risk Base: All aged 15+ June 2010 No Risk at all (1) (2) (3) (4) Very High Risk (5) Don t know Mean (1-5) High Risk (Net) Low Risk (Net) Radon gas in home Pollution from Sellafield 10 10 10 11 1 18 24 34 34 (7) 3.4 5 21 (2) 3.3 59 21 Women (39) C1s (39) Munster (37) Conn/Ulster (37) Nuclear power stations abroad 14 12 19 29 (3) 3.43 52 2 Mobile phone masts 1 21 24 20 17 (2) 3.01 37 37 Mobile phones 24 2 1 10 (2) 2.2 2 50 Chest x-ray 3 2 9 (2) 2.21 15 2 Q.3 I am going to read a list of items and would like you to rate one on a scale of 1 to 5 where 5 poses a very high risk to your health and 1 poses no risk at all. How do you rate.
Awareness of radon gas achieving similar levels to 2004. Although older men are aware of radon gas, their level of perceived risk is lower than for older women. High awareness amongst ABC1 s and those concerned about radon gas. Base: All aged 15+, June 2010 Who is aware of radon gas? Unaware Unaware 23 24 7 77 November 2004 Aware Aware Younger men <35yrs 77 Older men >35yrs 94 Younger women<25yrs 3 Older women>35yrs 84 ABC1 8 C2DE 9 Dublin 74 Rest of Leinster 79 Munster 7 Conn/Ulster 79 Concerned about radioactivity 80 Heard of RPII 94 Radon gas is a high risk to your health 85 *November 2004 data fielded with TNS/MRBI Q.4 Have you heard of radon gas, before today? 7.
A slightly lower levels of concern about radon gas being present in their home is achieved in 2010 vs 2004 Base: All Adults 15+ who have heard of radon gas Nov* 04 (N=757) June 10 (N=74) Very concerned (4) Fairly concerned (3) 18 29 14 47 43 29 Concerned (NET) (43) Older Women (52) DE s (48) Conn/Ulster (45) Not very concerned (2) Not concerned at all (1) 31 20 30 51 55 25 Not Concerned (NET) (55) Younger Women (59) ABC1 s (57) Dublin (57) Munster (57) Don t know 2 3 Mean score 2.45 2.33 Net concern 47 43 *November 2004 data fielded with TNS/MRBI Q.5 To what extent are you concerned about the presence of radon gas in your home? 8.
Relative to perceived risk of radon gas to your health, the level of concern about radon gas in your home is much lower Base: All Adults 15+ Very High Risk (5) (4) Perceived risk of radon gas to your health 34 June 2010 Concern about radon gas in your home 14 29 Very concerned (4) Fairly concerned (3) (3) 1 30 Not very concerned (2) (2) No Risk At All (1) 10 10 25 Not concerned at all (1) Half of all people who perceive radon to be a risk to their health are not concerned about radon gas in their home. 9.
Despite high levels of perceived risk of radon gas, the likelihood of getting their home tested is relatively low amongst total population aware of radon gas. Likelihood does increase with concern Base: All who heard of radon gas excludes people who had had their homes tested June 10 Very likely (4) Quite likely (3) 13 23 3 Likely (NET) (3) Older Women (39) ABC s (33) DE s (33) Rest of Leinster (3) Not very likely (2) 29 1 Unlikely (NET) (1) Younger Males (54) DE s (33) Dublin (59) Not at all likely (1) 32 Don t know 3 Mean score 2.18 Q. How likely are you to have your home tested for radon gas? Are you 10.
People who are unlikely to get their homes tested can rationalise their opinion by claiming to be unaffected, have higher priorities or too expensive even amongst those who are concerned about radon gas in their home Base: All who are not very/not at all likely to have home tested at Q. Believe my home to be unaffected by radon gas Not a priority at the moment Heard of it, but don t know enough about it Unaware of who to go to Too expensive Unaware of how to do it Don t believe its dangerous to my health Low risk area Don t own my own home/not responsible for home New home/radon burner Too disruptive Other - 3 June 10 (N=398) 7 7 7 8 13 27 Older Males (34) C1 s (32) Dublin (32) Older Women (2) DE s (27) Conn/Ulster (25) Concerned about radon gas in the home (N=94) 20 13 7 17-5 8 1 1 9 Q.7 Why are you not likely to have your tested for radon gas? (Spontaneous) 11.
The young people clearly have no idea what to do while older people would return home and stay inside Base: All aged 15+, n=1,000 No idea what to do/don t know Return home and stay inside Do nothing Travel to another part of the country Follow Government guidelines Relocate to friends or family s homes Watch news/media Take iodine tablets Go to underground/bunker/fall out shelter Move country Other June 2010 1 1 3 3 5 8 7 25 20 Very much the young person s point of view (<35 s) Older person s point of view Older men s point of view Q.9 In the event of a nuclear accident abroad, what would you do? Spontaneous 13.
GP s medical achieve highest levels of trust followed by word of mouth from family friends/ neighbours. Very little trust placed in An Taoiseach or other government ministers currently Base: All aged 15+, n=1,000 GPs/Medical Professionals No Trust at All (1) (2) 7 (3) 20 (4) 32 Highest Trust (5) 34 Don t know Mean (1-5) High Trust (Net) Low Trust (Net) (1) 3.82 13 Older Males (9) C2 s (72) Dublin (8) Neighbours, Friends and family 12 15 20 30 (2) 3.44 52 27 The Army/Gardai 8 10 23 30 28 (1) 3.59 58 18 Met Eireann 10 25 33 23 (3) 3.59 5 1 Environmental (i.e. Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, etc.) Official state agencies that deal with radiation 13 18 12 14 25 21 2 28 21 (2) 3.35 48 25 (3) 3.30 49 32 Not significantly higher amongst those who have heard of the RP11 The media (TV, Press, Radio, etc.) 21 18 2 An Taoiseach or other government ministers 44 19 20 9 12 (1) 2.8 34 39 (1) 2.14 15 3 Older Women (70) F s (72) Rest of Leinster (7) Q.10 Still thinking about a nuclear accident happening abroad, I would like you to rate each of the following institutions using a scale of 1 to 5 where 5 is an institution in which you would place the greatest trust and 1 is an institution in which you have no trust at all. So to what extent do you trust in the event of a nuclear accident happening abroad. 14.
Similar levels of awareness of RPII as 2004, significantly higher amongst older males and those who are likely to get their home tested for radon gas Base: All aged 15+, June 2010 Who is aware of the RPII? Younger males <35yrs 27 Unaware 73 27 Aware Older males >35yrs 47 Younger females <35yrs 17 Older females >35yrs 25 ABC1 30 C2DE 24 Dublin 23 November 2004 Rest of Leinster 27 Munster 27 Conn/Ulster 30 Concerned about radon 34 Unaware 73 2 Aware Likely to test for radon gas 37 1 Don t know *November 2004 data fielded with TNS/MRBI Q.11 Have you ever heard of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, sometimes known as the RPII? 15.
Almost two thirds of the population think it is important to have a regulatory body that ensures the safe administration of radiation and radioactivity in Ireland. Base: All aged 15+, n=1,000 June 2010 Very important (4) 5 Older Men (77) and Women (77) AB s (78) Dublin (8) Quite important (3) Not very important (2) Not important at all (1) Don t know 24 5 4 2 Mean score 3.53 Q.12 How important is it to you to have a regulatory body that ensures the safe administration of radiation or radioactivity in Ireland? Is it 1.
Quantitative Conclusions In general there appears to quite high levels of awareness, and perceived health risk about radon gas in the home. However the level of concern about radon gas being in their own home is low, allowing people to de-personalise the issue. The majority of the population believe in the importance of the work of the RPII, however the RPII needs to raise its profile in order to link the two. 17.