title: Framing peak petroleum as a public health problem: audience research and participatory engagement in the United States.
abstract: Between December 2009 and January 2010, we conducted a nationally representative telephone survey of US adults (n = 1001; completion rate = 52.9%) to explore perceptions of risks associated with peak petroleum. We asked respondents to assess the likelihood that oil prices would triple over the next 5 years and then to estimate the economic and health consequences of that event. Nearly half (48%) indicated that oil prices were likely to triple, causing harm to human health; an additional 16% said dramatic price increases were unlikely but would harm health if they did occur. A large minority (44%) said sharp increases in oil prices would be "very harmful" to health. Respondents who self-identified as very conservative and those who were strongly dismissive of climate change were the respondents most likely to perceive very harmful health consequences.
authors.affiliation: School of Communication, American University, Washington, DC, USA. Nisbet@american.edu
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nisbet
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maibach
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leiserowitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce; D003625:Data Collection; D004467:Economics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010578:Petroleum / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011634:Public Health; D011639:Public Opinion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum