Risk Perception in Context: The Savannah River Site Stakeholder Study

Environmental managers are increasingly charged with involving the public in the development and modification of policies regarding risks to human health and the environment. Involving the public in environmental decision making first requires a broad understanding of how and why the public perceives various risks. The Savannah River Stakeholder Study was conducted with the purpose of investigating individual, economic, and social characteristics of risk perceptions among those living near the Savannah River Nuclear Weapons Site. A number of factors were found to impact risk perceptions among those living near the site. One's estimated proximity to the site and relative river location surfaced as strong determinants of risk perceptions among SRS residents. Additionally, living in a quality neighborhood and demonstrating a willingness to accept health risks for economic gain strongly abated heightened risk perceptions.The Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP)The Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP)The Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP)     

Risk scientists and government regulation of ethical behavior: A comparative analysis of opponents and proponents

A mail survey instrument was sent to almost 1,500 members of three professional organizations whose participants study health and environmental risk. Members were asked their opinions about the effectiveness of government auditing of data, research designs, and facilities. Respondents who thought auditing would be effective were outnumbered 6 to 1 by those who thought it would be ineffective. Supporters tended to be less experienced than opponents. They disproportionately had earned baccalaureate or masters degrees as their terminal degree, not doctoral degrees. Supporters had jobs that required data for regulatory purposes, and they perceived that incompetence and pressure lead to misconduct.