title: The effect of misunderstanding the chemical properties of environmental contaminants on exposure beliefs: a case involving dioxins.
abstract: Chemical properties of contaminants lead them to behave in particular ways in the environment and hence have specific pathways to human exposure. If residents of affected communities lack awareness of these properties, however, they could make incorrect assumptions about where and how exposure occurs. We conducted a mailed survey of 904 residents of Midland and Saginaw counties in Michigan, USA to assess to what degree residents of a community with known dioxin contamination appear to understand the hydrophobic nature of dioxins and the implications of that fact on different potential exposure pathways. Participants assessed whether various statements about dioxins were true, including multiple statements assessing beliefs about dioxins in different types of water. Participants also stated whether they believed different exposure pathways were currently significant sources of dioxin exposure in this community. A majority of residents believed that dioxins can be found in river water that has been filtered to completely remove all particulates, well water, and even city tap water, beliefs which are incongruous with the hydrophobic nature of dioxins. Mistrust of government and personal concern about dioxins predicted greater beliefs about dioxins in water. In turn, holding more beliefs about dioxins in water predicted beliefs that drinking and touching water are currently significant exposure pathways for dioxins. Ensuring that community residents' mental models accurately reflect the chemical properties of different contaminants can be important to helping them to adjust their risk perceptions and potentially their risk mitigation behaviors accordingly.
authors: Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. bzikmund@umich.edu
authors: Brian J
authors: BJ
authors: Zikmund-Fisher
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Turkelson
authors: Alfred
authors: A
authors: Franzblau
authors: Julia K
authors: JK
authors: Diebol
authors: Lindsay A
authors: LA
authors: Allerton
authors: Edith A
authors: EA
authors: Parker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D060766:Drinking Water; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D060766:Drinking Water; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
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