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sources, with older individuals significantly more likely to rely on formal sources compared to younger respondents( OR = 0.239, 95 % CI: 0.107 – 0.533, p <. 001). This highlights a potential gap between information source preference and motivation to learn more, especially among older residents. Other factors such as gender, employment, hospital visits, and living location did not significantly influence information source preferences
In summary, the study results highlight that many residents expressed concerns about the effects of radiation, including its potential links to thyroid cancer and its long-term consequences for the health of their children and grandchildren. Despite assurances regarding food safety, some residents noted that uncertainties persisted, particularly regarding the impact of consuming food produced in Fukushima Prefecture. Concerns about the quality of drinking water and the radioactivity levels of seafood were also frequently mentioned. Some residents wondered whether their lives would return to normal after decontamination and whether they would be able to safely garden, grow crops, or consume local produce.
Furthermore, residents expressed distrust of official explanations regarding the effects of radiation and the current risk at Futaba, and noted that experts’ opinions on radiological risks sometimes diverged, making it difficult to know who to trust. Some reported not knowing where to turn for information about radiation and its health effects and requested clear explanations of the risks associated with returning to Futaba, particularly regarding everyday activities such as gardening, farming, and visiting forests.
Beyond health concerns, respondents highlighted broader social and economic challenges. Several individuals questioned whether Futaba could ever fully recover, while others called for more job opportunities to encourage younger generations to return. A few respondents voiced opposition to nuclear energy, suggesting that the accident had irreversibly changed their views. These themes underscore the multifaceted challenges Futaba residents are facing in the recovery phase after the accident, with concerns about health effects and distrust in official information emerging as key drivers behind knowledge-seeking behavior.
Finally, the study results also shed light on the type of information and support residents seek from professionals, experts, and authorities to address their practical concerns and the challenges they face. They highlight the need for ageappropriate communication strategies that foster trust. The preference of young and middle-aged respondents for small group discussions suggests that interactive engagement methods may be more effective at improving radiation knowledge and addressing concerns than large lecture meetings.
5 Discussion
First, it should be noted that the number of survey response rate was low. Beyond the fact that this may be explained by the fatigue of those who are approached by repeated and numerous surveys( Kobayashi et al., 2020), the low response rate certainly reflects the fact that, given the time that has passed since the evacuation, the majority of residents have decided not to return to Futaba and have become disinterested in the questionnaires. Furthermore, most of the respondents were elderly, meaning that the results may not fully reflect the opinions of younger people who have decided against returning to Futaba. In addition, while the analysis highlights the main concerns related to health and confidence, other factors influencing return decisions, such as employment, education, and housing, were not fully taken into account. Nevertheless, this study sheds light on several important aspects of the complex challenges faced by residents following long-term evacuation. Japanese authorities have prioritized decontamination efforts to reduce radiation exposure. However, the decontamination process took much longer than initially expected, resulting in evacuation orders being lifted much later in the most heavily contaminated municipalities, including Futaba. As a result, many evacuees rebuilt their lives elsewhere and chose not to return, even after the restrictions were lifted. As of February 28, 2025 only about 100 residents— around 1.4 % of the original registered population prior to the evacuation— have actually returned to live in the town. The remaining 98.6 % of registered residents continue to reside outside Futaba, either within Fukushima Prefecture or elsewhere in Japan( Futaba City Hall). Despite considerable infrastructure efforts, Futaba remains largely uninhabited and currently the number of residents who have chosen to return remains marginal.
The situation faced by residents when the evacuation order was lifted raised many unique challenges, particularly regarding information about radiological risks. Unlike residents of the municipalities, who were only allowed to return after a few years due to relatively favorable radioactivity conditions and, as a result, were exposed to radiation in their daily lives and mobilized to participate in co-expertise processes, the residents of Futaba remained displaced for a significantly longer period, with very limited access to their places of residence in difficult conditions that in no way encouraged any desire to learn more about radiological risks.
The results of the analysis show that the issue of informing residents about radiological risk and, more generally, about the radiological situation at Futaba should be addressed taking into account the residents’ age. Older residents tend to expect formal information delivered through newspapers, books, and official bulletins, or even at large conference-type meetings or seminars, while younger and middle-aged residents are more attracted to informal information delivered at small roundtable discussions or even individual consultations. Given that this second group of residents shows a greater interest than older residents in acquiring knowledge about radiological risk, it might be interesting to explore the extent to which younger residents would be willing to engage in co-expertise processes, as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in the context of post-nuclear accident management( ICRP, 2020). As developed in a previous analysis( Thu Zar et al., 2022), the co-expertise process is based on three pillars: dialogue, which allows everyone to express their ideas, concerns and expectations; radioactivity measurements, which allow everyone to objectively assess and understand the surrounding radiological situation; and local projects, individual or collective, which promote self-confidence and the development of those involved in their implementation.