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Hormesis and risk communication: a comment to Ortwin Renn.
1King's Centre for Risk Management, School of Social Science and Public Policy, King's College London, London, UK. lofstedt@iiasa.ac.at
Human & Experimental Toxicology
|March 20, 2003
Summary
This commentary discusses risk communication for hormesis, advocating for its natural effect labeling to reduce stigma. It highlights trust as a crucial, yet underexplored, element in communicating new scientific paradigms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Risk Assessment
Background:
- Hormesis, a dose-response relationship with low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition, requires clear communication.
- Professor Ortwin Renn's work provides a foundation for understanding risk communication in this area.
- Stigmatization of hormesis due to technical labels necessitates alternative communication strategies.
Discussion:
- Trust is a critical, yet inadequately addressed, factor in hormesis risk communication.
- The author agrees with Renn on labeling hormesis as a natural effect to decrease stigma.
- A focus on trust can enhance the effectiveness of communicating novel scientific concepts.
Key Insights:
- Labeling hormesis as a natural effect can reduce negative perceptions.
- Building trust is paramount for effective communication of hormesis and similar concepts.
- Current risk communication strategies may not fully account for the role of trust.
Outlook:
- Developing effective risk communication strategies for hormesis requires a greater emphasis on trust-building.
- Future communication efforts should consider public and stakeholder perceptions of new scientific paradigms.
- Increased optimism is warranted for communicating hormesis and other emerging scientific concepts effectively.