Risk Communication: A Two-Community Analysis of Proximity, Dread, Trust, Involvement, Uncertainty, Openness/Accessibility, and Knowledge on Support/Opposition Toward Chemical Companies

Abstract

The research project examined how people's levels of trust, involvement, uncertainty, perceptions of openness, support, dread, and knowledge were affected by proximity to chemical manufacturing facilities. The study, included a telephone survey of 501 respondents, divided into 2 groups. Residents who live within 5 miles of a large complex of chemical plants were compared to people living at least 20 miles from chemical facilities Findings indicated that proximity affected people's levels of uncertainty, dread, and support Residents close to chemical plants expressed less uncertainty, less dread, and greater support for the chemical industry. Dread appears to play a significant role in a risk assessment, management, and communication scenario. It correlated negatively with support for chemical companies, trust, and perceptions of openness and positively with uncertainty and cognitive involvement. Dread is concern over dire and stigmatizing consequences from explosions and exposure to hazardous material. Further defining the risk communication process, post hoc analysis revealed that knowledge correlated positively with trust, perceived openness, and company support and negatively with cognitive involvement, uncertainty, and dread. Trust correlated negatively with uncertainty, involvement, and dread, while demonstrating a positive relationship with openness, support, and knowledge. Openness correlated with support, trust, and knowledge, while revealing a negative relationship with dread, involvement, and uncertainty. Support revealed a negative correlation with cognitive involvement, dread, and uncertainty, while correlating with trust, openness, and knowledge. This research suggests that proximity is a negative factor in risk assessment. Analysis confirms the model that features openness and trust-building efforts as a means for achieving support by addressing residents cognitive involvement, dread, and uncertainty