Most people are unsure of whether water pollution poses a threat to their personal health, but they are convinced that it poses a t hreat of harmful ong-term impacts to society. They are uncetain of whether individuals themselves can take steps to reduce threats from water pollution, but a majority think it is likely that experts can find ways to significantly reduce those threats. This optimistic view of experts reates most strongly to a positive view of government, altrusitc environmentalism, self-assessed informedness, and the belief that water pollution is sociental risk. Those who are most convinced that water pollutinon poses long-term risks to society are also the most likely to trust in the abilities of experts to reduce threats. In effect, the "see-no-problem" people do not think experts can reduce threats, perhaps in part because threats are not serious to them.
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