IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i11p6414-d823461.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Citizens’ Perception and Concerns on Chemical Exposures and Human Biomonitoring—Results from a Harmonized Qualitative Study in Seven European Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Matisāne

    (Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia)

  • Lisbeth E. Knudsen

    (Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Joana Lobo Vicente

    (European Environment Agency, Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Maria Uhl

    (Environment Agency Austria, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Andromachi Katsonouri

    (State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 28648, Nicosia 2081, Cyprus)

  • Annick D. van den Brand

    (National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands)

  • Tamar Berman

    (Department of Environmental Health, Ministry of Health, King David Street 20, Jerusalem 91010, Israel)

  • Mirjana Dimovska

    (Institute of Public Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Eleni Anastasi

    (State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 28648, Nicosia 2081, Cyprus)

  • Anthi Thoma

    (State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 28648, Nicosia 2081, Cyprus)

  • Szilvia Középesy

    (National Public Health Center, Pf. 839, 1437 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Dragan Gjorgjev

    (Institute of Public Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Mirjana Borota Popovska

    (Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Shalenie P. den Braver-Sewradj

    (National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands)

  • Tamás Szigeti

    (National Public Health Center, Pf. 839, 1437 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Marija Topuzovska Latkovikj

    (Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia)

  • Inese Mārtiņsone

    (Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia)

  • Lāsma Akūlova

    (Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia)

  • Linda Paegle

    (Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia)

Abstract

Exposure to different chemicals is an inevitable part of our everyday lives. Within HBM4EU, focus group discussions were conducted to gather data on citizens’ perceptions of chemical exposure and human biomonitoring. These discussions were hosted in Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, the Netherlands, and North Macedonia following a protocol developed in the first round of discussions. Results indicate the very high concern of European citizens regarding food safety and the environment. Focus group participants were well aware of potential uptake of chemicals through food consumption (e.g., preservatives, flavor enhancers, coloring agents, pesticides, fertilizers, metals), drinking water, or from polluted air and water. One of the positive aspects identified here, is the high interest of citizens in awareness and education on personal measures to control exposure. The promotion of personal behavioral changes requires active involvement of society (e.g., commuting habits, energy choices, waste disposal, dietary habits). Activities should focus on raising awareness of the general public, implementation of policy measures, and mainstreaming of related topics into the education system. Raising awareness of the general public may promote engagement of citizens, which in turn may empower them to put pressure on politicians to take effective actions. There is also a need for further research which might focus on the impact of country-specific situations and of the COVID-19 pandemic on the exposure of citizens to chemicals.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Matisāne & Lisbeth E. Knudsen & Joana Lobo Vicente & Maria Uhl & Andromachi Katsonouri & Annick D. van den Brand & Tamar Berman & Mirjana Dimovska & Eleni Anastasi & Anthi Thoma & Szilvia Középe, 2022. "Citizens’ Perception and Concerns on Chemical Exposures and Human Biomonitoring—Results from a Harmonized Qualitative Study in Seven European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6414-:d:823461
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6414/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/11/6414/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jayajit Chakraborty & Timothy W. Collins & Sara E. Grineski & Alejandra Maldonado, 2017. "Racial Differences in Perceptions of Air Pollution Health Risk: Does Environmental Exposure Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Maria Uhl & Ricardo R. Santos & Joana Costa & Osvaldo Santos & Ana Virgolino & David S. Evans & Cora Murray & Maurice Mulcahy & Dorothy Ubong & Ovnair Sepai & Joana Lobo Vicente & Michaela Leitner & S, 2021. "Chemical Exposure: European Citizens’ Perspectives, Trust, and Concerns on Human Biomonitoring Initiatives, Information Needs, and Scientific Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Dakshina G. De Silva & Rachel A. J. Pownall, 2014. "Going green: does it depend on education, gender or income?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(5), pages 573-586, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kirsten Burkhardt & Pascal Nguyen & Evelyne Poincelot, 2020. "Agents of change: Women in top management and corporate environmental performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1591-1604, July.
    2. Zhang, Li & Wu, Jing & Liu, Hongyu, 2018. "Policies to enhance the drivers of green housing development in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 225-235.
    3. Donatella Baiardi, 2021. "What do you think about climate change?," Working Papers 477, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised Aug 2021.
    4. Javier Cifuentes-Faura & Ursula Faura-Martínez & Matilde Lafuente-Lechuga, 2020. "Assessment of Sustainable Development in Secondary School Economics Students According to Gender," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Javed, Muzhar & Wang, Fangjun & Usman, Muhammad & Ali Gull, Ammar & Uz Zaman, Qamar, 2023. "Female CEOs and green innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    6. D. Liliana González-Hernández & Raúl A. Aguirre-Gamboa & Erik W. Meijles, 2023. "The role of climate change perceptions and sociodemographics on reported mitigation efforts and performance among households in northeastern Mexico," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1853-1875, February.
    7. Chia-Lee Yang & Chi-Yo Huang & Yi-Hao Hsiao, 2021. "Using Social Media Mining and PLS-SEM to Examine the Causal Relationship between Public Environmental Concerns and Adaptation Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-23, May.
    8. Ioannis Kostakis & Konstantinos P. Tsagarakis, 2022. "Social and economic determinants of materials recycling and circularity in Europe: an empirical investigation," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(2), pages 263-281, April.
    9. Aminjonova, Gulrukhsor & Khasanova, Dilfuzakhon, 2024. "How Perceived CSR Drives Customer Value Co-Creation in E-Commerce: Examining the Moderating Effect of Gender and the Mediating Effect of Satisfaction," SocArXiv 69cdm, Center for Open Science.
    10. Yanmei Tang & Shuangzhou Chen & Zongjin Yuan, 2020. "The effects of hedonic, gain, and normative motives on sustainable consumption: Multiple mediating evidence from China," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 741-750, July.
    11. Maria Uhl & Ricardo R. Santos & Joana Costa & Osvaldo Santos & Ana Virgolino & David S. Evans & Cora Murray & Maurice Mulcahy & Dorothy Ubong & Ovnair Sepai & Joana Lobo Vicente & Michaela Leitner & S, 2021. "Chemical Exposure: European Citizens’ Perspectives, Trust, and Concerns on Human Biomonitoring Initiatives, Information Needs, and Scientific Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-17, February.
    12. Jerónimo, Helena Mateus & Henriques, Paulo Lopes & Lacerda, Teresa Correia de & da Silva, Filipa Pires & Vieira, Pedro Rino, 2020. "Going green and sustainable: The influence of green HR practices on the organizational rationale for sustainability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 413-421.
    13. Muhammad Bello & Awudu Abdulai, 2016. "Measuring heterogeneity, survey engagement and response quality in preferences for organic products in Nigeria," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(13), pages 1159-1171, March.
    14. Powdthavee, Nattavudh, 2020. "The Causal Effect of Education on Climate Literacy and Pro-Environmental Behaviours: Evidence from a Nationwide Natural Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 13210, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Horbach, Jens & Jacob, Jojo, 2017. "The relevance of personal characteristics and gender diversity for (eco)-innovation activities at the firm-level : Results from a linked employer-employee database in Germany," IAB-Discussion Paper 201711, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    16. Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin & Alhusen, Harm, 2019. "On the determinants of pro-environmental behavior: A literature review and guide for the empirical economist," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 350, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, revised 2019.
    17. Meyer, Andrew, 2016. "Is unemployment good for the environment?," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 18-30.
    18. Eleni G. Kleovoulou & Corina Konstantinou & Andria Constantinou & Eelco Kuijpers & Miranda Loh & Karen S. Galea & Rob Stierum & Anjoeka Pronk & Konstantinos C. Makris, 2021. "Stakeholders′ Perceptions of Environmental and Public Health Risks Associated with Hydrocarbon Activities in and around the Vasilikos Energy Center, Cyprus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-15, December.
    19. Bührer, Susanne & Wroblewski, Angela, 2019. "The practice and perceptions of RRI—A gender perspective," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    20. Donatella Baiardi, 2021. "What do you think about climate change?," Working Paper series 21-16, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6414-:d:823461. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.