RISK PERCEPTION AND WORRIES AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

This is a study of reactions in selected groups of the Swedish population to the Chernobyl accident. Data were collected in September 1986, from three regions in the country which had been exposed in various degrees to radioactive fallout. In each region samples of farmers, adolescents, persons who had had a child just before or after the accident, and men who were not registered as legal custodians of children, were approached with a mail questionnaire. It was found that attitudes to nuclear power were predominantly negative, that the risk associated with radiation and nuclear power were rated among the worst risks, and that residents of the most exposed region (Gävle) reported being worried about injury from radiation twice as often as others. A sub-group of decisive opponents of nuclear power was identified. It was 15 times larger than the corresponding sub-group of decisive proponents. New parents and farmers were quite negative to nuclear power, a finding discussed in relation to their responsibilities for food production and care for others. © 1990 Academic Press Limited.