The importance of improvement of radiation emergency medical preparedness and response system in Mongolia.

The objective was to identify and share the key challenges facing Mongolia regarding the ability to introduce and establish an effective system for radiation emergency medicine (REM). National arrangements for preparedness and response to radiological emergencies include legal documents and commitments of regulatory bodies and governmental agencies were briefly mentioned. The key challenges include the establishment of an adequate system for radiation emergency medicine and related infrastructure; development of human resources including requirements for education, qualifications and regular trainings; supporting physical infrastructure, such as dosimetry and measurement devices including a cytogenetic biodosimetry laboratory. In addressing these challenges, the importance of establishment of an adequate system for radiation emergency medicine was highlighted. Utilization of support networks at international level such as IAEA and WHO/REMPAN which can assist Mongolia by provision of expert missions. It is considered as a crucial factor for successful implementation of the Mongolian project to develop its capacity in REM.

Implicit Attitudes About Agricultural and Aquatic Products From Fukushima Depend on Where Consumers Reside.

Japanese consumers are still hesitant to purchase products from Fukushima, although 7 years have passed since the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and these products are officially considered safe. In this study, we examined whether Japanese consumers have negative implicit attitudes toward agricultural and aquatic products from the Fukushima region and whether these attitudes are independent of their explicit attitudes. Japanese students completed an implicit association test and a questionnaire to assess their implicit and explicit attitudes toward products from Fukushima relative to another region. The results of two experiments reliably demonstrated that the public has negative implicit attitudes toward Fukushima products, whereas their explicit attitudes are consistently positive. These observations predominantly held for participants living close to Fukushima (Tokyo) as opposed to participants living far away (Hiroshima): Experiment 1 (n = 40). Furthermore, individual differences in aversion to germs contributed to the implicit attitudes; the implicit negative attitudes were attenuated among the participants with a relatively low aversion to germs: Experiment 2 (n = 60). These results suggest that the implicit attitudes associated with the behavioral immune system, which is conceptualized as a suite of psychological mechanisms designed to proactively resist pathogenic threats, may underlie the hesitation to purchase products from Fukushima.