How should we communicate radiation risk to the public?

Transcription

1 How should we communicate radiation risk to the public? Ng Kwan-Hoong, PhD, DABMP Department of Biomedical Imaging and Medical Physics Unit University of Malaya Radiation Protection : Application of Safety & Security in Ionising Radiation May 16, KH 09Ng

2 Radiation conjures up spectre of nuclear war, poisoned environment, cancer, birth defects, genetic mutations, even destruction of human race

3 Three Mile Island in 1979 Chernobyl in1986 Tokaimura in

4 Hazard vs. Risk

5 A hazard is something that can cause harm, e.g. electricity, chemicals, working up a ladder, noise, a keyboard, a bully at work, stress. A risk is the chance, high or low, that any hazard will actually cause somebody harm. Worksmart

6 Hazard vs. Risk A hazard does not necessarily put you at risk Hazards and the risks associated with them are everywhere, but known measures can be taken to minimise or eliminate risk. Everything we do exposes us to hazards. However, it is HOW we do things that determines the risk. Stairs are a hazard. Risk of falling: 1 in 100 or 1 in a million? DEHP

7 Hazard vs. Risk RISK How great the chance that someone will be harmed by the hazard

8 How Public Perceive Risk

9 We fear everything

10 Why Do People Fear Radiation? Invisible Lack of Knowledge Anecdotal Reports Exaggerated Negative Effects Perceived Risk

11 Universal Perception Factors Control vs. No Control Immediate/Catastrophic vs. Chronic Natural vs. Human-made made Risks vs. Benefits Trust vs. Distrust

12 Cognitive map of hazards Controllable Equitable Voluntary Slovic P: Science 236:280, 1987 Microwave oven X-ray Antibiotics Caffeine Aspirin Vaccines Smoking Alcohol Skiing Bicycles Motorcycles Unknown Risk Delayed Risk New Risk DNA technology Pesticides Asbestos insulation Radioactive waste Uncontrollable Catastrophic Involuntary Fires in skyscrapers Nuclear weapons Railroad collision Aviation Car accidents Immediate Risk Hand guns Known Risk Old Risk

13 Why Perceived Risk is greater than Actual Risk 1. People feel uncomfortable, insecure and anxious when faced with complex subjects, tend to oversimplify issues or jump to conclusions. Focus on one factor and exclude others, equally important factors. Living with radiation the risk, the promise

14 Why Perceived Risk is greater than Actual Risk 2. People are not yet used to deal with uncertainty and risk. They don t realise daily activities entail significant risk. When they are conscious of risk, they often insist the risk be zero; thus redefine the activity as safe. Living with radiation the risk, the promise

15 Why Perceived Risk is greater than Actual Risk 3. People are confused by conflicting reports by experts. They can t judge correctly qualifications of experts, or detect fallacies in scientific arguments or omissions in scientific evidence. They may fail to recognise conflicts of interest on the part of experts. They may trust unwarrantedly scientists who have become media experts as a result of frequent appearance. Living with radiation the risk, the promise

16 Living with uncertainties Ignorance Uncertainty Anxiety Fear Aggression and Violence Living with radiation

17 UNACCEPTABLE RISK TOLERABLE Limit Constraint ACCEPTABLE Attitudes IAEA and control of risk (NRPB 1998)

18 How to Communicate Risk to Public

19 Three Mile Island Mar 1979 IAEA Bulletin March 2006

20 Public Information after an Accident: Lesson Learned after Chernobyl Chernobyl Apl 1986

21 Soviet Union's misinformation and overall mismanagement of the disaster panic, fear, abortion, death, agony "People living in the affected villages are very distressed because the information they receive - from one expert after another turning up there - is inconsistent. People living there are afraid for their children," Gonzalez IAEA 2003.

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23 Risk Communication Risk communication is an interactive process of exchange of information and opinion among individuals, groups, and institutions. It involves multiple messages about the nature of risk and other messages, not strictly about risk, that express concerns, opinions, or reactions to risk messages or to legal and institutional arrangements for risk management. National Research Council Improving Risk Communication. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

24 National Academy of Sciences- National Research Council Model Risk Analysis Risk Assessment Risk Management Risk Communication

25 Risk communication strategy needs to focus on: understanding how the public perceives risk how the media translate information received from scientists or public policy- makers how representatives of the public and private sector can better relate risk information over a wide range of disciplines

26 To begin with Three fundamental lessons to be observed in communicating with the Public Imagine what what the the questions are are that that your your audience wants wants to to be be answered Speak Speak to to them them in in their their own own plain plain language Establish a human human relationship between you you and and at at least least some some members of of your your audience Maushart IRPA-10

27 How High is the Risk? There are Three Opponents in Radiation Protection The Doom People The Mainstream People The Realistic People Even Low-Dose Radiation is is a Great Risk: Limit Values Down! We We have Sound and and Proven Concepts: Limit Values Right! Low Low Doses are are Harmless, even Healthy: Limit Values Up! Up! Maushart IRPA-10 Higher Risk Lower Risk

28 All three of them identify science as witness for their convictions Whom is the Public to believe?

29 Detriment is the Scope of Radiation Protection, but Benefit is the Business of Politics The Public wants Benefit

30 Radiation Protection and the Public Flow of Information Government Agencies Radiation Protection Experts National Professional Society Society The Media Web Press Radio TV Personal Contact Maushart IRPA10 Politics Public

31 Another definition of risk communication Actions, words, and other interactions that incorporate and respect the perceptions of the information recipients, intended to help people make more informed decisions about threats to their health and safety. IAEA

32 Risk Communication is a matter of what an organization does, not just what it says must account for the affective component in people s s perception of risk will be more effective if it is thought of as dialogue not instruction. The expected outcome is to encourage certain behaviours. IAEA

33 The TRRUTH: Six Essentials For Success when Communicating with Public Be Trustworthy Be Responsive Be Receptive Be Understandable Be Tangible Be Helpful Make clear that you are an expert in Radiation Protection, but not a lobbyist Build up and maintain a personal contact with local reporters and science editors Listen to people: make your partners feel that you understand their concern Do not speak the language of science, but the plain language of your partner Open up to people on a personal basis, aim for confidence in your person Present your information not as a directive, but as a help to individual decisions Radiation Protection and Public Information IRPA-10

34 Some initiatives in risk communication

35 Eric Hall Radiobiology for the Radiologists

36 Explaining Radiation Dose to Public using BERT Concept (Background Equivalent Radiation Time)

37 BERT Concept To convert effective dose from the exposure to time in days, weeks, months or years to obtain the same effective dose from annual background radiation 2.2 msv per yr Bg Radiation 0.02 msv 3 days Adopted by UK, EU, US, ANZ, etc.

38 Timely information for public It would be a tragedy if someone did not have a medical imaging procedure that might save his or her life or alter the course of treatment solely because of concern over the effects of radiation. G. Donald Frey, Ph.D. Professor of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina

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40 Different languages

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44 Drop it and Run! Supplementary Symbol Aims to Help Reduce Needless Deaths and Injuries

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46 What have we learned

47 Hazard vs. Risk How Public Perceive Risk The Basics of Communicating Risk to Public How to Communicate Risk to Public

48 Risk Communication Challenges Nations interested starting up a nuclear power programme Responders to emergencies Officials responsible for long term storage of nuclear waste

49 Improving Communications To be effective, communications is a twoway process where information is exchanged between both parties (a sender and a receiver). Important for the communicator to listen and respond to sensitivities, concerns or questions that may be raised. It may be possible to anticipate some of these in advance. IAEA

50 Improving Communications Communications is a dynamic process, so those who are communicating should be: respectful to the audience; knowledgeable about the subject matter and able to answer questions; able to simplify scientific and technical concepts into plain language that can easily be understood; at ease dealing with the public; honest and sensitive to concerns that might be raised; and able to follow up if needed IAEA

51 Radiation also stirs up our imagination