Public perceptions of radon risk
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington (United States)
Since 1984, a significant amount of media attention has focused on health threats from radon gas exposure. Using a probability telephone survey of adults (n = 685), we studied public perceptions of risk from radon exposure versus other environmental health risks. The results indicated that 92% of those individuals who had heard of radon believe radon to be a health risk, although only 4% believe they are currently exposed to high levels of radon gas. Perception of risk from radon was positively related to other perceptions of environmental risks. Younger and less educated individuals were more likely to perceive radon as a health risk. Women were three-and-one-half times as likely as men to perceive risk from radon. However, there was no significant relationship between perceived risk from radon and cigarette smoking. Media attention has apparently led to public awareness of radon hazards, but further attention is needed to improve smokers' awareness of their special risks from radon.
- OSTI ID:
- 6524920
- Journal Information:
- Family Practice Research Journal; (United States), Vol. 13:1; ISSN 0270-2304
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
RADON
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
HEALTH HAZARDS
RISK ASSESSMENT
ADULTS
AGE DEPENDENCE
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC INFORMATION
PUBLIC OPINION
SEX DEPENDENCE
SURVEYS
TOBACCO SMOKES
AEROSOLS
AGE GROUPS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
INFORMATION
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
552000 - Public Health
540130 - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)