title: Communicating risks after exposure has ended: former workers' perspectives on PCBs.
abstract: While the importance of worker notification has been widely recognized, little attention has been paid to social and psychological contexts in which worker notification occurs, especially after the exposure has ended. This study explores workers' perspectives on exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a toxic material whose manufacture in the United States ended in 1977. Four focus groups were conducted with former workers (n = 29) who were exposed to PCBs. Verbatim transcriptions were analyzed. Participants considered living in the PCB-contaminated community more dangerous than handling PCBs on the job. While they firmly believed that PCBs in the environment caused serious health problems, participants expressed doubts about the toxicity of PCBs in the workplace. Both beliefs undermined the value of worker notification about occupational exposure to PCBs. A long-term relationship between workers and researchers would provide opportunities to cultivate better understanding of the hazard and facilitate the process of worker notification.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Pkwy (R-15) Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA. kfujishiro@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujishiro
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mobley
authors.forename: Everett
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D017007:Duty to Warn; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
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