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Environmental Risks Perception Among Citizens Living Near Industrial Plants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Dettori

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Paola Pittaluga

    (Department of Architecture Design and Urban Planning, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Giulia Busonera

    (Department of Architecture Design and Urban Planning, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Carmelo Gugliotta

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Antonio Azara

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    University Hospital in Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Andrea Piana

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    University Hospital in Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Antonella Arghittu

    (University Hospital in Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Paolo Castiglia

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
    University Hospital in Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

Abstract

The present work is a cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the risk perception and evaluating the community outrage linked to environmental factors among a self-selected sample of citizens living in an area characterized by the presence of industrial structures of high emotional impact. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to the population by publishing a Google form URL code in local and regional newspapers and via social media. The resulting data were entered on Excel and analyzed. Qualitative variables were summarized with absolute and relative (percentage) frequencies. The results showed that the event that causes the greatest worry was air pollution, with 92.6% of the respondents stating that they perceived the problem as “very” or “quite” worrying. Furthermore, all the health problems investigated in relation to environmental quality aroused concern among the interviewees, with 93.1% believing there was a cause-effect relationship between environmental quality and health. Overall, as other studies had previously underlined, the survey shows that the perceived risks are not always in line with the real ones, Thus, it is imperative to articulate interventions aimed at offering the population objective tools to enable them to interpret the risks themselves. In this regard, a fundamental role is played by adequate communication between the competent bodies and political decision-makers and the population.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Dettori & Paola Pittaluga & Giulia Busonera & Carmelo Gugliotta & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Antonella Arghittu & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Environmental Risks Perception Among Citizens Living Near Industrial Plants: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4870-:d:381090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Dettori & Benedetto Arru & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Gavino Mariotti & Maria Veronica Camerada & Paola Stefanelli & Giovanni Rezza & Paolo Castiglia, 2018. "In the Digital Era, Is Community Outrage a Feasible Proxy Indicator of Emotional Epidemiology? The Case of Meningococcal Disease in Sardinia, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-8, July.
    2. Marco Dettori & Antonio Azara & Erika Loria & Andrea Piana & Maria Dolores Masia & Alessandra Palmieri & Andrea Cossu & Paolo Castiglia, 2019. "Population Distrust of Drinking Water Safety. Community Outrage Analysis, Prediction and Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-10, March.
    3. Smith, Richard D., 2006. "Responding to global infectious disease outbreaks: Lessons from SARS on the role of risk perception, communication and management," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(12), pages 3113-3123, December.
    4. Antonella Arghittu & Marco Dettori & Antonio Azara & Davide Gentili & Antonello Serra & Bruno Contu & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Flu Vaccination Attitudes, Behaviours, and Knowledge among Health Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Maria Luisa Lima & Julie Barnett & Jorge Vala, 2005. "Risk Perception and Technological Development at a Societal Level," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 1229-1239, October.
    6. Giovanna Deiana & Antonio Azara & Marco Dettori & Fiorenzo Delogu & Gavino Vargiu & Isabella Gessa & Filippo Stroscio & Marcello Tidore & Giorgio Steri & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Deaths in SARS-Cov-2 Positive Patients in Italy: The Influence of Underlying Health Conditions on Lethality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-10, June.
    7. Tanja Congiu & Giovanni Sotgiu & Paolo Castiglia & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Laura Saderi & Marco Dettori, 2019. "Built Environment Features and Pedestrian Accidents: An Italian Retrospective Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, February.
    8. Beniamino Murgante & Giuseppe Borruso & Ginevra Balletto & Paolo Castiglia & Marco Dettori, 2020. "Why Italy First? Health, Geographical and Planning Aspects of the COVID-19 Outbreak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-44, June.
    9. Stefano Capolongo & Andrea Rebecchi & Marco Dettori & Letizia Appolloni & Antonio Azara & Maddalena Buffoli & Lorenzo Capasso & Alessandra Casuccio & Gea Oliveri Conti & Alessandro D’Amico & Margherit, 2018. "Healthy Design and Urban Planning Strategies, Actions, and Policy to Achieve Salutogenic Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, November.
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    5. Barbara Tchórzewska-Cieślak & Katarzyna Pietrucha-Urbanik & Emilia Kuliczkowska, 2020. "An Approach to Analysing Water Consumers’ Acceptance of Risk-Reduction Costs," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-16, November.
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