Attitudinal effects associated with an environmental hazard

There has been increasing concern over environmental hazards such as toxic waste disposal, but little research has occurred on those effects related to the stress associated with these hazards. Related research has suggested the presence of both behavioral (e.g., headaches, nausea) and attitudinal effects (demoralization, upset, perceived threat, lack of trust). Mediators to these effects were found to include distance from the stressor, frequency of stimuli, gender, age and presence of small children.Four hundred twenty-one persons were surveyed with adaptations from the Hopkins Life Checklist and instruments used in studies of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Effects for the attitudes ofperceived threat, declining qualify of life, anddistrust of authorities were significant for both distance from site and frequency of stimuli. Future anticipation, quality of information and having children significantly affected attitudes, as did age and gender. Implications for policymakers and researchers are also discussed.This study was funded through research grant # 1 RO3 MH39745-01 of the Small Grants Program of the National Institutes of Mental Health, Center for Mental Health Studies of Emergencies.