title: Are Australians concerned about nanoparticles? A comparative analysis with established and emerging environmental health issues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Introducing new technologies into society raises considerable public concern. We determine the public concern about nanoparticles, and compare this concern to other environmental health issues such as wind farms and coal seam gas production.
  
  
  METHODS
  A repeat cross sectional survey examining views on environmental health issues, risk, chemicals and trust was undertaken in more than 1,300 Australian residents in 2000 and 2013. Logistic regression and principal component analysis was used to investigate predictors of nanoparticle concern and identify a component structure for environmental health issues that could explain a trend of future nanoparticle concern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Australians have a relatively low level of concern about the risks of nanoparticles to health when compared to their concerns about other environmental health issues. Items associated with concern included gender, a general wish to avoid chemicals and possibly trust in politicians. Concern over nanoparticles clustered with similar views on technological risks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current public concern over the risks of nanoparticles is low. However, a reframing of the issue towards 'chemicals' is likely to have a negative effect on risk perceptions. This paper raises questions about appropriate channels for the effective communication of risk.
authors: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales; Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection New South Wales.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Capon
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Rolfe
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Gillespie
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010465:Perception; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011639:Public Opinion; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: environmental health; nanoparticles; perception; risk