Factors influencing acceptability of final disposal of incinerated ash and decontaminated soil from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2023-11, Vol.345, p.118610-118610, Article 118610
• Main Authors: Shirai, Kosuke, Takada, Momo, Murakami, Michio, Ohnuma, Susumu, Yamada, Kazuo, Osako, Masahiro, Yasutaka, Tetsuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Decontamination; Environmental recovery; Moral foundations; Nuclear waste; Risk perception; TEPCO'S fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant accident
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118610

TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident prompted extensive decontamination work. The decontaminated soil and incinerated ash generated by the process are scheduled for final disposal by March 2045 outside Fukushima Prefecture. The final disposal is unprecedented worldwide. Clarifying their acceptability will contribute to the final disposal of decontaminated soil and incinerated ash, as well as add knowledge about the perceived risk of low-concentration radioactive waste. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the psychological factors influencing final disposal acceptability. The results of the structural equation modeling demonstrated stable results, with risk perception decreasing acceptability, social benefits increasing acceptability, and personal benefits having limited impact. The initiative for the final disposal of decontaminated soil and incinerated ash can facilitate the reconstruction of Fukushima Prefecture after the disaster. Trust and intergenerational expectations are critical factors influencing the acceptability of this disposal. The responses were classified based on the relevance of moral norms using cluster analysis and moral foundations. The influence of each element on acceptability varied depending on the cluster. Trust was identified as the most influential factor in acceptability, regardless of the level of importance placed on moral norms. [Display omitted] •Psychological factors affecting the acceptance of final disposal were evaluated.•Factors included risk/benefit perception, trust and intergenerational expectations.•Structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the influences.•Respondents were classified based on their moral foundations by cluster analysis.•Trust emerged as an important factor regardless of the degree of moral foundations.