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Risk perception differences in a community with a municipal solid waste incinerator
A S Ostry1, C Hertzman, K Teschke
1Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, UBC, Vancouver.
Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Informing communities about hazardous technologies like municipal solid waste incinerators may increase acceptance, not alarm. Awareness of the incinerator correlated with higher desirability ratings for the technology.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Sociology
- Risk Perception Studies
Background:
- Community responses to hazardous technologies require further understanding.
- Municipal solid waste incinerators are often perceived as hazardous.
- A community model of risk perception can be applied to environmental surveys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess community attitudes towards waste management, specifically incineration.
- To identify sociological factors influencing community perceptions of an operating incinerator.
- To understand the relationship between awareness and risk perception of hazardous technology.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an environmental risk perception survey in a community with an active municipal solid waste incinerator.
- Utilized a community model of risk perception framework.
- Collected data on awareness, concern, and desirability ratings of incinerator technology.
Main Results:
- Approximately one-third of the community was unaware of the incinerator.
- Unaware individuals rated incinerator technology less desirable than the aware group.
- Aware individuals were divided into concerned and unconcerned groups, with the unconcerned showing acceptance.
Conclusions:
- Public information about hazardous technology may foster acceptance rather than alarm.
- Awareness and varying levels of concern significantly shape community attitudes towards waste management facilities.
- Sociological attributes play a key role in shaping risk perception of environmental technologies.