Achieving Greater Consistency between Subjective and Objective Risks

摘要

In the context of a hypothetical Superfund site (or abandoned hazardous waste facility), the research examines strategies for achieving a closer match between risk estimates by citizens and those by scientists. A stratefied sample was interviewed to represent environmental groups, business, civic activists, elected officials, and general population. Respondents were given a scenario about contamination of drinking water from the Superfund site. The scenarios varied in that some included an uncertainty disclaimer. The other variation was in terms of how much citizen participation would be involved in decisions about remedial action, or whether the state would purchase homes that could not be sold at a price representing market value before discovery of the site. Respondents were asked about their level of concern, their perceived risk, and any actions they would take if they lived near the hypothetical site.