Mental health and psychosocial consequences linked to radiation emergencies—increasingly recognised concerns

Abstract

A major radiological or nuclear emergency may, apart from causing a substantial loss of life and physical damage, also put a substantial strain on affected societies with social, economic and political consequences. Although such emergencies are relatively uncommon, it is now being increasingly recognized that their subsequent psychosocial impact can be widespread and long lasting. Mental health effects, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, are highly represented in a population affected by a radiation disaster. In order to reach the majority of the people affected by radiation accidents, we need to be aware of how to distribute relevant and accurate information related to both short- and long-term medical effects. Effective risk communication is associated with improved compliance with any given recommendations. It is important to protect the public from physical radiation damage, but it is also essential to take into account the social and mental health effects that radiation disasters may induce. This article provides a brief review of recent reporting on the psychological consequences after a major radition emergency.

Population's Radiation Anxiety Structure Analysis for the Pre-Covid-19 Period

“…This study found that the likely prevalence of depression among adult evacuees was 14.6 % in 2012 and slowly declined to 9.7 % in 2014, but was significantly higher than the average in Japanese, i. e. approximately 3 % of respondents. The surveyed depressive states indicate the need for further activities on educational measures to elucidation the real danger of NPP accident [7]. The discrepancies between these results and our studies of the radiation anxiety level dynamics can be explained by the nonrecurrent nature of the Fukushima nuclear incident, which interpreted by the population as a «disaster in the past», in contrast to the permanent threat from the operating nuclear fuel cycle facilities in Ukraine [5].…”

The Epidemiological Profile and Morbidity-Mortality Patterns of Technological Disasters in the Americas from 2000 to 2021: a cross-sectional study

“…20,21 Nuclear disasters are a type of technological disaster with signi cant psychosocial effects. 22 Radiological accidents can trigger speci c mental health disturbances that differ from those observed after natural disasters. 23 This may be because they are typically sudden-onset disasters, and the threat is invisible to the person, making fear of the potential consequences greater due to the uncertainty of the extent of exposure.…”

“…23 This may be because they are typically sudden-onset disasters, and the threat is invisible to the person, making fear of the potential consequences greater due to the uncertainty of the extent of exposure. 22 The Three Mile Island nuclear accident (Pennsylvania, 1979) was the most severe nuclear accident in the United States. 24 A study conducted on the population affected by this accident showed a slight increase in the risk of bronchus, trachea, lung cancer, and leukemia.…”

Responding to radiation accidents: what more do we need to know?

“…Furthermore, these consequences can have long-term persistence. Therefore, planning for accidents and incidents needs to include provision for psychosocial care and high quality, trusted risk communication (Lindberg et al 2022). Initial triage will usually be based on clinical observations plus information on the nature of the accident and the location of the victim.…”