Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

3-1986

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Public Health

Major Professor

Bill C. Wallce

Committee Members

Jack Ellison, Robert Kirk, Robert Pursley

Abstract

Three hundred questionnaires were hand-delivered to samples of residents in Soddy-Daisy and Dayton, Tennessee, in the-spring of 1985. The study concerned the degree of respondents' awareness of the risks of nuclear radiation or other radiation sources and how this information correlated with various socioeconomic variables including profession/occupation, educational level, gender, background, and proximity to a nuclear facility.

Based on a 70 percent response rate, the following findings were generated. First, one's proximity to the site of a nuclear facility does make a difference in attitudes of persons toward radiation and its potential dangers and risks. Persons who live close to the nuclear facility, the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant (SNPP), regard the dangers of radiation from a nuclear facility as low compared with those living some distance from the site.

Persons in the samples selected regarded themselves as urban and well-educated regarding radiation risks. Ninety-four percent of the two samples reported a high knowledge about radiation risks and nuclear power. This was further supported by the fact that most had had five or more science courses in their formal educational training. However, when these respondents calculated their own radiation dosage levels, most were surprised by the results.

There is no influence upon attitudes toward radiation based on whether or not one works for a nuclear facility. Twenty percent of the two samples would consider changing their lifestyles as a result of their newly acquired information about their own radiation dosage levels. When persons were examined who were surprised about their own radiation dosage levels, a median mREM dosage value was determined. Eighty-seven percent of those persons above the median dosage level would consider changing their lifestyle. An estimate of the critical point at which persons would alter their lifestyles was determined to be 360 mREM's.

The relatively high educational level of the two samples made it difficult to devise an educational instrument to improve their radiation knowledge. However, those areas reflecting inaccurate or incorrect perceptions of radiation from different sources were identified and a brochure was prepared to function as an educational tool to assist persons in improving their knowledge of radiation and its attendant effects.

It was proposed that another study be conducted to incorporate greater diversification in the samples selected. Also, more sensitive measures of one's knowledge of radiation levels should be utilized.

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