Survey about risk perception between citizens resident in a municipal at high risk of environmental crisis

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the result of a survey carried out in 2002 about the risk perception of the main risk factors for health and environment in an industrial area at high risk of environmental crisis, in order to contribute to risk communication programs aiming to make the population informed and conscious about industrial risk. DESIGN: The survey was carried out in 2002 through questionnaire to investigate citizens' risk perception SETTING: Municipality of Portoscuso, industrial district located along the South-west coast of Sardinia, and active in the chemical, electrochemical fusion and rolling, thermoelectric fields. PARTICIPANTS: The survey has been carried out, through home interviews, on a representative sample of the population of Portoscuso, consisting of 148 citizens aged between 18 and 70. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The results showed that industrial pollution is considered high by more than 80% of the sample at global and even more at local level showing how this represents an important worrying factor for the local people. CONCLUSION: This is the basis to develop an effective risk communication process, that involves actively all stakeholders (people, experts, industry and local authorities) in risk management.