Public Response to Uncertainty in Environmental Risk Estimates: Research Project Summary
Date
2003-06
Date Removed
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology
Abstract
Scientists and officials often wish to publicize their estimates of environmental health risk, which always have some uncertainty. Risk communicators have urged uncertainty be
part of the message. The research reported here is among the first to test public reactions to such messages. The few other studies done suggested public reactions could
vary from greater risk aversion to no effect to greater acceptance of risks. The research summarized here
explored reactions to numeric estimates of uncertainty,
particularly in ranges of risk estimates. It included federally funded research for which Johnson and Slovic collected
data mostly in Oregon, and research by Johnson with New
Jersey data; results were similar and involved the same lead author, so both are reported here for a fuller explanation of
public response to environmental risk uncertainties.
Description
Keywords
New Jersey, Health - Environmental aspects