Public Perceptions of Environmental Public Health Risks in the United States
Mikyong Shin1, Angela K Werner2,3, Heather Strosnider4
1Environmental Public Health Tracking Section, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. mshin@cdc.gov.
Summary
Public concern about environmental health risks is high, yet awareness of government tracking efforts is low. Understanding these perceptions is key for effective environmental public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Health Communication
Background:
- Public perception of environmental health hazards influences engagement with public health initiatives.
- Effective targeting of community activities, policy, and communication requires understanding public awareness and concerns regarding environmental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess public awareness of government environmental health tracking efforts.
- To evaluate public concern about health risks from environmental pollutants.
- To examine demographic factors associated with awareness and concern.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional online survey (ConsumerStyles, 2013) of U.S. adults.
- Utilized questions from the Centers for Disease Control's Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.
- Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations between demographics and awareness/concern.
Main Results:
- Over half of respondents (57.8%) expressed concern about health risks from environmental pollutants.
- Awareness of government efforts was reported by 40.0% of participants.
- Non-Hispanic blacks, other races, females, college-educated individuals, and those in the Midwest/South regions showed higher concern levels.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist in public awareness of environmental health tracking initiatives.
- Demographic factors correlate with levels of concern regarding environmental health risks.
- Future efforts should prioritize risk communication and addressing information gaps in environmental health.
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