Optimistic biases in public perceptions of the risk from radon

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Am. J. Public Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.78.7.796· OSTI ID:6922513

Weinstein, N D; Klotz, M L; Sandman, P M

Survey data were obtained from a random sample of 657 homeowners in New Jersey and also from 141 homeowners who had already monitored their homes for radon. People who had not tested tended to believe that they were less at risk than their neighbors, and they interpreted ambiguous predictors of home radon levels in ways that supported their beliefs of below-average risk. Residents who had already tested their homes were relatively accurate about the probability of health effects. In both groups less than half of those who knew that radon can cause lung cancer were willing to admit that it would be serious if they suffered health effects from this source. The optimistic biases of the public may hamper attempts to encourage home radon monitoring and to promote appropriate mitigation measures in homes with elevated radon concentrations.

• Research Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6922513
• Journal Information: Am. J. Public Health; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Public Health; (United States) Vol. 78:7; ISSN AJHEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560161* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BUILDINGS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HOUSES
MONITORING
NEW JERSEY
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC OPINION
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RISK ASSESSMENT
USA