title: Is the risk from nanomaterials perceived as different from the risk of 'chemicals' by the Australian public?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Manufactured nanomaterials in Australia are managed predominantly through existing chemical regulatory frameworks. Many Australian government regulators have suggested the framing of manufactured nanomaterials as 'chemicals' when communicating about manufactured nanomaterials to the general public. This paper aims to determine whether the Australian public perception of manufactured nanomaterials differs to that of 'chemicals', and to examine the relationship between attitudes towards chemicals and perceptions of nanomaterial risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a computerised assisted telephone survey of the Australian public. Analysis was undertaken using descriptive, paired tests of proportion, paired t-test and logistic regression techniques. We explored perceptions of nanomaterial risk and their relationship to perceptions of chemical risk and 'chemical attitudes'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the public perceives nanomaterials in a more favourable light than it does chemicals. Perception of risk from chemicals had the greatest association with perceived nanomaterial risk (adjusted odds ratios between 0.1 and 0.2) and that attitudes to chemicals were associated with perception of nanomaterial risk in some cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk communicators and policy makers need to consider the differences and associations between nanomaterials and chemicals when addressing the regulatory aspects of nanomaterials with the public. This is relevant for communication strategies that attempt to normalise the risks from nanomaterials compared with those of chemicals, especially as nanomaterials are perceived to be less risky than chemicals.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia, acap1921@uni.sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capon
authors.affiliation: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia Sydney Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rolfe
authors.affiliation: Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Branch, Health Protection NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011639:Public Opinion; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances