title: Cleaning products, environmental awareness and risk perception in Mérida, Mexico.
abstract: Cleaning products are associated with many health and environmental problems. Contamination of water resources by cleaning products is more likely to occur with septic tanks as sewage treatment systems especially in karstic terrains. We explored women's ideas about water sources and the risk cleaning products pose to health and sewage in Mérida, a city in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico. Women were unaware of the city's water management system. We found a positive and statistically significant association between risk perception and environmental awareness, education level and employment status. We suggest developing education and risk communication strategies to inform residents about the hydro-geological features in the Yucatán, the vulnerability of its karstic aquifer and the health and environmental risks associated with cleaning agents.
authors.affiliation: Independent researcher, 113 Woodview Terrace, Hurst, Texas, USA. ruthmmp@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ruth Magnolia
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Peña
authors.forename: Almira L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hoogesteijn
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cervera-Montejano
authors.forename: Julia G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pacheco-Ávila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult