RISK PERCEPTION AND THE LOCATION OF A REPOSITORY FOR SPENT NUCLEAR-FUEL

This study investigates lay people's reactions to a repository for nuc lear waste. Risk perception is seen as a complex concept, comprising b oth affective and cognitive components. Attitude towards nuclear power and trust in experts and authorities had a substantial impact on risk perception, while personal knowledge about nuclear waste disposal had no effect. Thus, the more positive one's attitude towards nuclear pow er is and the more trust one has in experts and authorities, the lower one's risk perception is. Also, reactions were expected to vary with distance between the home district and the location of a repository. T hese variations differed in nature for people with alternative levels of risk judgement. The distance between the home and a repository affe cted approval of the proposed site. Distance between home and reposito ry also had an effect on risk feelings and somewhat less on beliefs ab out consequences. Estimated total risk was directly mediated by belief s about consequences, but even more so by risk feelings. With regard t o risk, one can conclude that it is important to make a distinction be tween an emotional and a cognitive component of risk perception.