A Comparison of Actual and Perceived Residential Proximity to Toxic Waste Sites

Abstract

Studies of Memphis and Three Mile Island have noted a positive association between actual residential distance and public concern about exposure to the potential of contamination, whereas none was found at Love Canal. In this study, concern about environmental contamination and exposure was examined in relation to both perceived and actual proximity to a toxic waste disposal site (TWDS). It was hypothesized that perceived residential proximity would better predict concern levels that would actual residential distance. The data were abstracted from a New York State, excluding New York City, survey using all respondents (N = 317) from one county known to have a large number of TWDSs. Using linear regression, the variance explained in concern scores was 22 times higher with perceived distance than for actual distance. Perceived residential distance was a significant predictor of concern scores, while actual distance was not. However, perceived distance explained less than 5% of the variance in concern scores.

A score for measuring health risk perception in environmental surveys

“…employment (Wiegman et al, 1991), as well as psychological mechanisms, such as cognitive dissonance-reducing heuristics, which increase risk acceptance in long-term residents in contaminated areas (Grasmück and Scholz, 2005). Interestingly, Howe (1988) found that perceived (self-reported) distance from chemical disposal sites was strongly associated with the level of concern expressed by residents, while actual distance was not. Our findings also support that reported traffic intensity is a better predictor of risk perception than living close to major roads.…”

“…Research on the perception of risk in relation to pollution has produced conflicting results (Howe, 1988;Grasmück and Scholz, 2005;Moffatt et al, 2000;Poortinga et al, 2008). Concern about specific environmental threats is likely to be a local phenomenon, depending on local benefits associated with industrial facilities, e.g.…”

Predicting public concern regarding toxic substances in the environment.

“…Perception of closeness to potential contamination sources was a significant predictor of concern in this study. A study comparing the actual distance and perceived proximity to inactive toxic waste disposal sites is reported in another paper where actual distance was not related to concern level, while perceived proximity was significantly related (14).…”

Water Quality Degradation Effects on Freshwater Availability:Impacts of Human Activities

“…This concept of chemical time bombs has emerged in the past few decades through environmental toxicology investigations and results of environmental remediation. Our perceptions of the risk associated with exposures to toxic substances has likewise evolved (Howe, 1988).…”