War of aggression against Ukraine heightens awareness of radiation protection

Presentation of study "What does Germany think about radiation?" Source: BMUV/Christoph Wehrer

Almost half of people in Germany trust that the state will protect them in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant, and clarification is needed as to what action the general public should take in the event of such an accident. These are the findings of the study "What does Germany think about radiation?", which was presented jointly in Berlin by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).

Events in Ukraine show how quickly the risk of a nuclear threat can escalate. "It's our responsibility to inform the public as effectively as possible about risks and protective measures and to carry out educational work," says Christian Kühn, Parliamentary State Secretary at the BMUV. "Where gaps exist in people's knowledge, it’s our job to close them."

BfS President Inge Paulini Source: BMUV/Christoph Wehrer

In the survey carried out on behalf of the BfS, 63% of citizens said they were very worried about possible radioactive contamination from nuclear power plants following an accident. Inge Paulini, President of the BfS, says: "We received lots of questions in the first weeks of the war. Often, people wanted to know what protective measures should be taken in Germany in the event of an incident in Ukraine." The study revealed that only two out of 10 respondents knew what action they should take in the event of a potential accident at a nuclear power plant.

Paulini: a clear mandate for the federal government, federal states and local authorities

In this second study, following a first edition in 2019, most respondents said the most important source of information in the event of a nuclear accident is the internet, followed by television and radio. Only 13% of respondents would turn to either the public authorities in the municipality or federal state or to the BfS respectively.

Measurement and evaluation: emergency preparedness in Germany

As a result of the study, Paulini believes there is a need for action on multiple levels. "This is a clear mandate for the federal government, federal states and local authorities to further improve their own information services." Moreover, she calls for greater interlinking of civil protection with the plans in the event of a radiological emergency: "Much of this has already been set out in the Radiation Protection Act of 2017. If civil protection and disaster assistance arrangements are now being revised, particularly in light of last year's flooding and the coronavirus pandemic, then these considerations must also take radiological emergencies into account."

In addition to nuclear power, prominent topics include mobile communications and UV radiation

In the context of radiation, particularly prominent topics for the general public include not only nuclear power but also the possible effects of mobile communications and UV radiation. The majority of people (62%) report that their most intensive contact with the topic of radiation in their everyday lives is via mobile communications. Radiation due to mobile communication devices and mobile phone masts is not a particular cause of concern for most people. Although no health damage should be feared below the limit values, 7% and 9% respectively express great concern about these sources.

State Secretary Christian Kühn Source: BMUV/Christoph Wehrer

With regard to the sun and UV radiation, many people are aware of the risks: 78% of respondents have obtained information regarding protection against the sun. However, there is often a disconnect between knowledge and behaviour: for example, only 46% of people always apply sunscreen in the summer sun. Women protect themselves much more often than men. Despite rising cases of skin cancer, most people never keep informed about the daily UV index, which helps people to assess the risk. "Individual protection against the sun should go hand in hand with more measures to create shadows from the federal government, federal states and local authorities," says Kühn.

The risk due to radon is massively underestimated

Compared to all of the other surveyed radiation risks, radon was the least likely to be perceived as a health risk. Eleven percent of respondents are completely unaware of whether the radioactive gas poses a risk in the first place. However, radon in homes is one of the leading causes of lung cancer after smoking. “In the case of the noble gas radon, risk and the perception of risk are diametrically opposed,” says Kühn. "We need to do more in this area and provide even more information!"

Great trust in radiation protection and differing perceptions of risk

Overall, the survey shows that the sense of being protected by the state in relation to radiation has increased. This is particularly pronounced in medicine: 82% of respondents feel rather or very well protected in this setting – and this proportion was already very high in the previous study, in 2019, at 70%. The sense of being informed about radiation in general has also increased slightly compared to 2019, although it remains at a low level.

Paulini: "The study shows that there are considerable differences in the perception of different types of radiation as well as their risk potential. In the case of mobile communications and UV radiation, among others, there is a disconnect between risk perception and the actual risk. We see this as a mandate to continue with our intensive information activities and to seek to engage in dialogue with the general public."

Information from the federal government, federal states and local authorities

Information on radiation protection in general as well as on radiological emergencies can be found on the websites of the BMUV (www.bmuv.de) and BfS (www.bfs.de/notfallschutz). Further information on radiological emergencies is provided to the general public by federal states and local authorities.

The representative study "What does Germany think about radiation?" was carried out by Gesellschaft für Innovative Marktforschung (GIM) on behalf of the BfS and has two parts.

In the period from April to May 2022, around 2,000 people aged 16 and over were asked about their attitude to and knowledge of radiation. The qualitative part of the study, involving individual interviews and group discussions, was carried out in November 2021 and January 2022. This study is the second of its kind, following a first edition in 2019. The series of studies seeks to understand the perceptions, insights and information requirements of the general public in Germany and to derive recommended courses of action.