| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 88 === Since the 1980s, the government in Taiwan has regarded construction of its 4th nuclear power plant as a priority in economical policy. After several years’ postpone, the Atomic Energy Council in Taiwan issued the construction permit in 1999 and provoked greater social controversies and public debates. Moreover, a new president and cabinet were formed in May, 2000 and the social political standpoint changed dramatically in months.
Understanding the public risk perception is essential to establish a better risk-communication and risk-management. This study aims to examine public risk perception toward nuclear power facilities and to explore the underlying factors, including concerns and worries about the nuclear power operation. The risk categories evaluated include smoking, nuclear power operation, nuclear waste, motorcycle accident, aerial transportation, and food intoxication. A survey was conducted from December, 1999 through February, 2000, including 327 residents who live nearby the nuclear power plants I and II, and 153 employees of the Taipower and these nuclear power plants.
39% of the resident population favored the construction of the 4th nuclear power plant, compared with 93% of the Taipower’s employees. The residents regarded the acceptable distance between their houses and the nuclear power plant 204.55 km ( s.d.=112.34 km), which was much larger than 58.02 km ( s.d.=88.83 km) regarded by the Taipower’s employees. The acceptable distances was strongly correlated with perceived scale of risks toward nuclear power operation. Risk perception toward nuclear power operation and nuclear wastes were significantly higher than other risks like smoking, aerial transportation, motorcycle accident, and food intoxication. But the risk perceived by Taipower’s employees toward nuclear power operation and nuclear wastes was the least.
Among the residents, nuclear wastes, nuclear accident, long-term low dose radiation effects, cancers, environmental impact, uncertain health effects, and damage to the next generations were the most important factors involved in nuclear power operation. On the other hand, Taipower’s employees regarded nuclear wastes, nuclear accident, social movements and possible war attack as the risks for nuclear power operation.
To analyze the factors associated with respondents’ risk perception toward nuclear power operation, a factor analysis was applied. Among residents, two factors were identified: a general factor including damage to the next generation’s effects, social-environmental effects, and health effects, and a life-quality-related factor. In Taipower’s employees, the first factor was unexpectedly not associated with health effects.
Great differences in risk perception toward nuclear power operation and nuclear wastes existed between residents nearby the nuclear power plants and employees of these nuclear power plants. The results need greater attention and warrant more dvanced study in the future.
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