Returning Home after Decontamination? Applying the Protective Action Decision Model to a Nuclear Accident Scenario

Joel Rasmussen and Petter B. Wikström
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Joel Rasmussen: Crisis Communication Centre, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Örebro University, 70182 Örebro, Sweden
Petter B. Wikström: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Studies of the aftermath of nuclear power plant accidents show that affected citizens assess higher risks and adopt more risk-avoidant behaviors than authorities expect. This results in differences between the planned recovery and actual outcomes. Based on this knowledge, this study examined the factors that affect citizens’ preference to continue living in a decontaminated area. Testing the key aspects of the protective action decision model (PADM), this study analyzed Swedish survey data ( N = 2291) regarding such an accident scenario. Several aspects of the PADM, from the layperson’s view of threats and protective actions, to stakeholders and situational factors, were strongly supported. The most influential variables affecting settlement choices are perceptions of radiation risk, perceptions of decontamination effectiveness, government information, living with certain restrictions, and attachment to an area because of one’s work. A novel contribution of this study is that it ranked the significance of such effects on behavioral intentions in an emergency scenario. Regarding the policy recommendations, this study concluded that a recovery program must facilitate most aspects of people’s lives and provide trustworthy information on decontamination efficiency. As some people will avoid potential health risks and leave a decontaminated area, planning to implement one solution for everyone would likely not be optimal.

Keywords: nuclear accidents; decontamination; risk perceptions; return migration; local populations; PADM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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