RADIOECOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND PERCEPTION OF RADIATION RISK IN BELARUS

摘要

The energy crisis in Belarus, caused by the practically complete absence of its own fuel resources (only 10.5% of requirements are covered by the production of about 2 million tons of oil, 0.5 billion cubic metres of gas, a small quantity of peat, etc.), has resurrected interest in nuclear power engineering. The question of whether to build a nuclear power plant (NPP) has been put on the agenda of the day in conditions where almost a quarter of the territory of Belarus is contaminated by radiation, the population has endured serious consequences from the Chernobyl NPP accident, and the national economy faces considerable difficulties in overcoming these consequences. At the same time, the solution to the problem of power supply in Belarus will influence the whole area of economic reforms and consequently the fulfilment of the State programme for overcoming the consequences of the catastrophe. The perceptions of a considerable part of the population of Belarus concerning the possibility of construction of a NPP have formed through the prism of this catastrophe and are often based on incorrect representation of the degree of radiation risk from the Chernobyl accident as well as from operation of a future NPP. In this connection, a specific necessity is radioecological education of the population and management bodies of Belarus. Radioecological literacy of all sectors of society is a guarantee of adequate perception of real radiation risk, which will permit effective solution of the problems of rehabilitation of radioactively contaminated areas and provide answers to the questions related to development of nuclear power engineering. Thus, correct understanding by the public of radiological risk is not just a guarantee of support for the idea of development of nuclear power engineering, but first is a basis for adequate understanding of the consequences of catastrophe and formation of corresponding models for behaviour in conditions of radioactive contamination of the environment. This in turn will guarantee to a considerable extent the radiation protection of citizens living in the regions that have suffered from the Chernobyl accident, so that they can overcome psychological stress and thereby improve their state of health. For the realization of these tasks, in January 1993 the National Training, Research and Information Centre for Radiation Protection, Power Engineering and