[Communication of risk and citizen involvement in environmentally related health protection]

The importance of risk communication and participation in the solution of environmental health problems has been increasingly appreciated. However, realisation is a demanding task for health departments, as practical experience is limited. Psychological processes in risk perception facilitate confounding of different levels of conflict. Therefore, risk communication and participation should be organised as a stepwise procedure which separates risk assessment, risk evaluation and risk management options. The present paper discusses problems which might emerge in each of these issues and suggests possible solutions. Risk communication aims at implementation of transparent decision making processes involving citizens. However, even when agreement in risk assessment can be achieved, arriving at a consensus in respect of decision making might fail if facts are weighted differently.