Risk perception of people involved in biomonitoring of the general population living near an Italian incinerator

Abstract

Introduction. The surveillance system on the health of population living near waste incinerator in Turin (SpoTT) includes an evaluation of risk perception before the entry into operation. Methods. 394 subjects (35 – 69 years) were randomly sampled from the municipal registry and stratified by sex and five-year age groups: 196 residents in the exposed area (E) and 198 in a control area (C). A questionnaire gathered information about risk perception, awareness of environmental and health issues, sources of information used, and the most reliable authorities to provide information on environment and health issues. A logistic regression was performed, controlling for exposure area, gender, age, place of birth, educational level, marital status, presence of children, perceived health status. Differences in the overall sample and between E and C by each variable are tested. Results. E group is most worried than C about anthropogenic causes (OR 2.10: 95%CI 1.36-3.22) and solid waste management (2.11:1.30-3.47). There are difference of risk perception for individuals reporting a good health status, for who has a low educational level and for the younger age class with respect to their reference categories. E consider themselves at risk for a series of illness: allergies (2.16:1.34-3.46), acute and chronic respiratory diseases (2.11:1.31-3.37; 1.95:1.20-3.17), temporary damage (4.42: 2.16-9.02), liver damage (3.77:1.98-7.17), cancers (5.62: 3.33-9.49), leukemia (7.04: 3.72-13.33) and congenital diseases (9.00:3.80-21.31). Conclusions. The survey shows a general worry status in people exposed to incinerator. The questionnaire will be offered again after three years of operation of the incinerator to monitor if there will be changes in risk perception and to check the efficacy of SPoTT communication plan.