Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Communicating Arsenic's Risks.

Shannon H Rogers^1,2, Laurie R Rardin³, Kathrin Lawlor³

¹Cooperative Extension, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA. shannon.rogers@unh.edu.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

|September 19, 2019

Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Corrigendum to "Evaluating the environmental occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and potential exposure risk for recreational shellfish harvesters in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire" [Sci. Total Environ. Volume 986, 15 July 2025, 179747].

The Science of the total environment·2025

Same author

Evaluating the environmental occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and potential exposure risk for recreational shellfish harvesters in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire.

The Science of the total environment·2025

Same author

Geographic and ecological drivers of contaminants and nutrients in commercial fish species.

The Science of the total environment·2025

Same author

Mercury bioaccumulation in three colonial seabird species in the Gulf of Maine.

The Science of the total environment·2024

Same author

Remotely sensed above-ground storage tank dataset for object detection and infrastructure assessment.

Scientific data·2024

Same author

Habitat and dissolved organic carbon modulate variation in the biogeochemical drivers of mercury bioaccumulation in dragonfly larvae at the national scale.

The Science of the total environment·2023

New England residents face arsenic risks from well water and rice, yet awareness is low. This study used a website and mental models to bridge knowledge gaps about arsenic risks and water testing.

Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Toxicology
Risk Communication

Background:

Arsenic, a toxic metalloid, is prevalent in New England's bedrock, contaminating well water and posing health risks.
Arsenic exposure also occurs through food, notably rice, yet regional residents often underestimate the associated dangers.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate environmental communication strategies for addressing public knowledge gaps regarding arsenic risks.
To understand the discrepancy between expert and community perceptions of arsenic hazards in New England.

Main Methods:

Development and assessment of a dedicated website, "Arsenic and You," providing comprehensive information.
Application of a mental models research approach to identify and analyze perception differences.

Keywords:

arsenic community based research environmental communication mental models risk communication

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

Significant knowledge gaps identified concerning arsenic's origin in water and food, the importance of well water testing, and treatment options.
The mental models approach effectively highlighted disparities in understanding between experts and the community.

Conclusions:

A "one-stop shop" website can effectively disseminate vital information and address public knowledge deficits about arsenic.
Targeted communication strategies are crucial for mitigating arsenic exposure risks and promoting informed decision-making.