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Murakami M, Ono K, Takebayashi Y, Tsubokura M, Nomura S. Comparing the risks of environmental carcinogenic chemicals in Japan using the loss of happy life expectancy indicator. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118637. [PMID: 38462082 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to use the loss of happy life expectancy (LHpLE), an indicator that enables risk assessment considering wellbeing, to compare the risks of environmental carcinogenic chemicals in Japan. First, we surveyed Japanese people to determine their emotional happiness by age and sex and evaluated whether cancer incidence reduced emotional happiness. Questionnaires were administered to a general population panel and a panel of patients with cancer in 2022, recruiting a predetermined number of responses of 5000 and 850, respectively. Second, using the survey data, LHpLE was calculated for radon, arsenic, and fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm; PM2.5) and compared to psychological distress, considering increased mortality and decreased emotional happiness due to these risks. We discovered no significant decrease in emotional happiness due to cancer incidence and no significant associations between emotional happiness and cancer type, history, or stage. LHpLE was calculated to be 6.4 × 10-3 years for radon, 2.6 × 10-3 years for arsenic, 1.1 × 10-2 years (2012 exposure) and 8.6 × 10-4 years (2020 exposure) for PM2.5, and 9.7 × 10-1 years for psychological distress. The fraction of losses caused by these carcinogenic chemicals to HpLE exceeded 10-5, suggesting that risk reduction for these chemicals is important in environmental policies. The LHpLE indicator allows for comparing different types of risks, such as environmental chemicals and psychological distress. This is the first study to compare chemical risks using the LHpLE indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Murakami
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Kyoko Ono
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoshitake Takebayashi
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Shuhei Nomura
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, Japan
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Murakami M, Takebayashi Y, Ono K, Tsubokura M. Risk trade-off analysis of returning home and radiation exposure after a nuclear disaster using a happy life expectancy indicator. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2021; 62:i101-i106. [PMID: 33978180 PMCID: PMC8114204 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rraa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
It is crucial to evaluate ethical issues regarding evacuation orders, especially after a nuclear disaster. After the Fukushima accident in 2011, the Japanese government ordered the affected people to evacuate. The evacuation orders have now been lifted in many areas. A risk trade-off analysis between benefits and risk associated with returning home would help in evaluating the justification for the lifting of the evacuation order in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster. Here, we performed a risk trade-off analysis among people returning home after the lifting of an evacuation order between an increase in emotional happiness (positive effect) and loss of life expectancy due to additional radiation exposure (negative effect), using a happy life expectancy (HpLE) indicator. Emotional happiness was estimated using questionnaires distributed among the affected people who lived in municipalities where evacuation orders were lifted. Loss of life expectancy was estimated under a scenario that returnees received 20 mSv in the year of return and subsequent radiation exposure. Increase in emotional happiness due to returning home was ~1-2 orders of magnitude higher among women aged 20, 40 and 65 years than the loss of life expectancy due to additional radiation exposure. This finding has implications for the justification for the lifting of evacuation orders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Murakami
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Yoshitake Takebayashi
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Kyoko Ono
- Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8569, Japan
| | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, 2-54-6 Takami, Haramachi, Minamisoma, Fukushima, 975-0033, Japan
- Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
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Sun Y, Yan T. The Use of Public Health Indicators to Assess Individual Happiness in Post-Disaster Recovery. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16214101. [PMID: 31653053 PMCID: PMC6862458 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16214101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Very few studies have examined the influential factors of survivors' feelings of happiness in the context of nuclear accidents. This paper aims to fill this gap with reference to the recovery process in Fukushima City following the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami in Japan. METHODS Open access data were sourced from the 2015 Social Survey on Living and Disaster Recovery (SSLDR) (N = 1439) of Fukushima citizens. Pearson's Chi-square Test and the t-test were employed to examine gender differences with regard to happiness and exploratory variables. Following this, a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the determinants of happiness. RESULTS The results showed that, compared to females, male respondents were unhappier and reported more property loss and less neighborhood connectedness. Individuals' mental and physical health and neighborhood connectedness were found to be significantly correlated with their happiness. However, the disaster-related variables of people's evaluation of recovery achievement, concerns around the health impacts of radiation, property loss in the disaster, and experiences of casualty, had no effects on happiness. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that policies and countermeasures dealing with disaster recovery over the long term should continuously focus on health issues and social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Sun
- Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610200, China.
| | - Tingting Yan
- Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610200, China.
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Murakami M, Takebayashi Y, Tsubokura M. Lower Psychological Distress Levels among Returnees Compared with Evacuees after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2019; 247:13-17. [DOI: 10.1620/tjem.247.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Masaharu Tsubokura
- Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine
- Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital
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Murakami M, Hirosaki M, Suzuki Y, Maeda M, Yabe H, Yasumura S, Ohira T. Reduction of radiation-related anxiety promoted wellbeing after the 2011 disaster: 'Fukushima Health Management Survey'. JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION 2018; 38:1428-1440. [PMID: 30375359 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/aae65d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, affected residents experienced increased radiation-related anxiety and reduced subjective wellbeing. We investigated whether reduction of radiation-related anxiety promoted wellbeing among evacuees in Fukushima and assessed the role of mental health distress as a mediator. We used data from questionnaire surveys of evacuees in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years (N = 34 312). We used radiation risk perception as an indicator of radiation-related anxiety and the frequency of laughter as an indicator of wellbeing. We measured changes in radiation risk perception from 2011 and 2012, and the frequencies of laughter and mental health distress (Kessler 6-item scale) in 2012, and investigated associations between radiation risk perception and frequency of laughter with and without covariates of mental health distress. Perceived genetic risk in 2011 had a significant inverse association with the frequency of laughter. Lowering of radiation risk perception was significantly associated with the frequency of laughter in the absence of covariates of mental health distress, but not in their presence. Lowering of radiation risk perception was also significantly associated with low mental health distress. Reduction of radiation-related anxiety promoted wellbeing via alleviation of mental health distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Murakami
- Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima, 960-1295 Japan
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Murakami M, Kumagai A, Ohtsuru A. BUILDING RISK COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES AMONG PROFESSIONALS: SEVEN ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RISK COMMUNICATION. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2018; 182:120-127. [PMID: 30165706 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the Fukushima disaster, medical professionals have been involved in risk communication with residents affected. This is an urgent issue, and an important aspect of global disaster preparedness is defining the essential characteristics of professional risk communication, and training medical professionals and students to conduct effective risk communication. Using a narrative of risk trade-offs between radionuclides in the diet and traffic accidents as an example, we introduce the seven essential characteristics required by medical professionals and authorities involved in risk communication: (1) risk assessment, (2) differentiating between risk acceptance and risk trade-offs, (3) understanding differences in risk quality, (4) understanding how to frame information given residents' values, (5) giving attention to coping with too-high risk, (6) building trust and (7) fully considering how information is provided. Furthermore, we introduce an example of lectures at which participants can voluntarily learn the seven essential characteristics of risk communication through group discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michio Murakami
- Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kumagai
- Education Center for Disaster Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Akira Ohtsuru
- Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Education Center for Disaster Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
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Effect of Radiological Countermeasures on Subjective Well-Being and Radiation Anxiety after the 2011 Disaster: The Fukushima Health Management Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15010124. [PMID: 29329263 PMCID: PMC5800223 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011, concerns about radiation exposure and decline in subjective well-being have been reported. To tackle these problems, various countermeasures in relation to radiation have been implemented. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the effects of radiological countermeasures on subjective well-being (e.g., satisfaction with life (SWL) and emotional well-being) and radiation anxiety, through a questionnaire survey targeting Fukushima residents (N = 1023). Propensity scores matching was applied to evaluate significant effects of radiological countermeasures on subjective well-being and radiation anxiety. Among the radiological countermeasures, thyroid examination, whole body counter, and air dose monitoring showed the highest proportions of participation, utilization, and useful evaluation, suggesting a high degree of public attention focused on these countermeasures. The basic survey was associated with significant increases in SWL and self-rated health (SH). Thyroid examination was significantly associated with not only a reduction in radiation anxiety but also an increase of emotional stress, suggesting the importance of careful design of system and detailed communication. Food inspection was associated with deterioration in SH. Those who utilized explanatory meetings showed increases in sadness, worry, and radiation anxiety, indicating that additional attention is required of the experts and authorities involved in explanatory meetings.
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