The earlier measurements show that there is great suspicion about nuclear waste. Today, somewhat over one fourth of the population (28%) consider the disposal of nuclear waste in the Finnish bedrock to be safe. Half of the population (50%) are of the opposite opinion. The figures are somewhat more sceptical than the year before, but the attitudes are nevertheless more confident than on the average during the follow-up period [figure 5.].

The reservations can be explained with the fact that more than two thirds of people (71%) consider nuclear waste to be a continuous threat to the life of future generations. In practice, the result is the same as during the previous measurement. On the whole, the time series shows that opinions remained strictly negative until 1992, but after this there has been gradual moderation in the attitude trend [figure 6.].

The worst touchstone in the nuclear waste opinions is the attitude towards locating the waste in the people’s own municipality of residence. The proportion of people who accept this solution (assuming that safety would be scientifically proved) is approximately every third (30%). More than every second has a negative attitude (56%). The distribution indicates slightly higher levels of distrust than in the previous measurement; however, annual changes have been minimal also in this area (no time series figure).

The specific municipalities of the study - potential municipalities of disposal – are divided into two groups, as far as the attitudes are concerned. Of the people living in Loviisa and Eurajoki, communities where the present nuclear plants are located, a majority (64% and 61%) accepts the location of this waste in the area of their own municipality. The least acceptance can be found among people living in Kuhmo and Äänekoski [figure 7.].