Environmental Risk Perception Research Articles

The role of habituation in the adjustment to urban life: An experimental approach with burrowing owls

Birds exhibit variation in fear behaviour in response to an approaching human within and between species and across different habitat contexts. We analyze urban and rural burrowing owls’ variation in risk perception along separate but consecutive days (Treatment 1) and risk perception within the same day (Treatment 2). Fear behaviour was measured as flight initiation distances (FIDs) and aggressiveness level when a pedestrian approached repeatedly to an owl individual. We predict that the attenuation in fear response along treatments should add support to the habituation hypothesis (decrease the response to a repeatedly stimulus after verifying that it is irrelevant) while consistency in behaviour might be indicative of a personality trait. We found that FID decreased for measurements made on both treatments in rural owls and also in urban owls for Treatment 2. These results are compatible with a habituation process. We found that aggressiveness remained invariable along treatments in both habitats suggesting that different mechanisms underlie these behavioural responses. Our results suggest that owls’ risk perception to humans can be adjusted based on environmental risk perception and that individuals are able to recognize and learn when a stimuli stops being a threat.

The Effects of Regional Characteristics and Policies on Individual Pro-Environmental Behavior in China

As the Chinese economy grows, Chinese people’s environmental behavior enormously affects the environment of neighboring countries as well as China. Many studies have related environmental behavior to personal characteristics such as environmental knowledge and attitude or to national policies such as environmental taxes and regulations. Few studies have looked at how regional factors affect residents’ environmental behaviors, particularly for China. This is a substantive gap in the literature regarding the effects of regional governments on resident behavior at a closer distance via different mechanisms than the national government. This paper examines determinants of individual pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in terms of regional attributes as well as personal characteristics in China. For this purpose, we applied a multi-level regression model that regresses the degree of PEB on both individual and regional level factors, using Chinese General Social Survey data and the China Environment Yearbook data for the year 2010. The analysis shows that environmental attitude, willingness to pay for the environment, objective and subjective environmental knowledge, and environmental risk perception all promote PEB at the individual level. These results are in line with the existing literature on environmental behavior. In addition, at the regional level, environmental budgets, administrative enforcement, and economic development have positive impacts on resident PEB, while environmental pollution has a negative effect. Specifically, the levels of regional economic development and administrative enforcement not only directly affect behavior, but also indirectly affect behavior by controlling the influence of individual level variables. This means that the relationships between individual level variables and environmental behavior can be changed by regional contextual factors. These results suggest that regional government efforts for the environment can effectively promote PEB.

Students' Environmental Risk Perception in University of Catania (South Italy): Results of a Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction:Risk perception is associated to different socio-cultural and individual factors, like subjective judgment and level of Health literacy (HL), which are poorly studied in Italy. This st...

Echoes from the coast: Assessment of residents’ perception of environmental hazards and risks in coastal communities of Nigeria

AbstractHuman settlements can be threatened by presence of environmental hazards, as their incidence is often unpredictable in temporal and spatial dimension. Coastal communities in oil‐producing states are often at risk of natural and technological environmental hazards as well as those emanating from residents’ living conditions. This paper therefore examines the residents’ perception of environmental hazards and risks in coastal communities of Nigeria. This work is aimed at providing information that could guide in improving environmental awareness and safety in the study area. Three coastal communities (Sapele, Oghara, and Koko) were selected in Delta State, Nigeria. One ward was randomly selected out of every three wards in each community. Thus, three wards were selected in Sapele, two in Oghara, and one in Koko, and a questionnaire was administered on every fifth residential building in each of the selected wards. A total of 218 residents were selected for the survey using this systematic sampling technique. The study established that residents were aware of environmental hazards and risks in the study area. Furthermore, the study found out that residents did not perceive environmental hazards and risks emanating from their living conditions as threats to their living compared to technological (oil‐induced) and natural environmental risks. The study recommends that government and all concerned agencies synergize efforts to create enlightenment programs and implement policies that could enhance residents’ awareness of environmental hazards and risks arising from their living conditions. Also environmental hazards and risks education should be introduced into school curriculum. Finally, the government should promulgate and enforce laws to guide the activities of industrialists and manage the threats from flood in the study area.

Relationships among Environmental Attitudes, Risk Perceptions, and Coping Behavior: A Case Study of Four Environmentally Sensitive Townships in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Climate change issues have attracted much attention in recent years. To date, the related research has focused mostly on the national and regional impacts of climate change. Taiwan, an island state, has relatively high vulnerability to the consequences of climate change, and its western coastal areas are particularly vulnerable. Yunlin County, with 13 townships that are all prone to flooding, will be highly affected by climate change. In this study, the 13 townships are grouped into four categories of synthesized vulnerability and ecological footprint (EF): “low synthesized vulnerability/low EF” (Linnei), “high synthesized vulnerability/low EF” (Sihu), “low synthesized vulnerability/high EF” (Mailiao), and “high synthesized vulnerability/high EF” (Huwei). Ecological footprint was used to measure the human demand for resources and ecological services, as well as a way to understand the relationships among human living habits, consumption patterns, and natural capital consumption. Then, the relationships among attitudes to climate change, risk perceptions, and coping behavioral intentions in these four categories were examined using structural equation models (SEM). A stratified random sampling method was used to collect 582 valid questionnaires. In addition to descriptive statistical analyses, the results of the SEMs for the four sensitivity categories indicate that different townships exhibit different causal relationships among attitudes to climate change, risk perceptions, and behavioral intentions. These findings can support appropriate strategies for governments, communities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for ensuring that areas of various sensitivities can cope. However, more vulnerable townships exhibit no significant positive relationship between attitudes to and knowledge of climate change, place attachment, and their adaptation behavioral intentions in the face of disaster risk perceptions. Therefore, in areas with high vulnerability, special attention should be paid to making the residents improve their adaptive behavioral intentions in the face of disaster risk perceptions.

The implications of rural perceptions of water scarcity on differential adaptation behaviour in Rajasthan, India

Water scarcity is one of the most critical issues facing agriculture today. To understand how people manage the risk of water scarcity and growing pressures of increased climate variability, exploring perceptions of risk and how these perceptions feed into response behaviour and willingness to adapt is critical. This paper revisits existing frameworks that conceptualise perceptions of environmental risk and decision-making, and uses empirical evidence from an in-depth study conducted in Rajasthan, India, to emphasise how individual and collective memories, and experience of past extreme events shape current definitions and future expectations of climatic risks. In doing so, we demonstrate the value of recognising the role of local perceptions of water scarcity (and how they vary between and within households) in constructing social vulnerability. This expanded understanding of risk perception is critical for incentivising individual adaptation and strengthening local adaptation pathways.

Perception of Urban Environmental Risks and the Effects of Urban Green Infrastructures (UGIs) on Human Well-being in Four Public Green Spaces of Guangzhou, China.

Cities face many challenging environmental problems that affect human well-being. Environmental risks can be reduced by Urban Green Infrastructures (UGIs). The effects of UGIs on the urban environment have been widely studied, but less attention has been given to the public perception of these effects. This paper presents the results of a study in Guangzhou, China, on UGI users' perceptions of these effects and their relationship with sociodemographic variables. A questionnaire survey was conducted in four public green spaces. Descriptive statistics, a binary logistic regression model and cross-tabulation analysis were applied on the data from 396 valid questionnaires. The results show that UGI users were more concerned about poor air quality and high temperature than about flooding events. Their awareness of environmental risks was partly in accordance with official records. Regarding the perception of the impacts of environmental risks on human well-being, elderly and female respondents with higher education levels were the most sensitive to these impacts. The respondents' perceptions of these impacts differed among the different green spaces. The effects of UGIs were well perceived and directly observed by the UGI users, but were not significantly influenced by most sociodemographic variables. Moreover, tourists had a lower perception of the impacts of environmental risks and the effects of UGI than residents did. This study provides strong support for UGIs as an effective tool to mitigate environmental risks. Local governments should consider the role of UGIs in environmental risk mitigation and human well-being with regard to urban planning and policy making.

Looking for a White Male Effect in Generation Z: Race, Gender, and Political Effects on Environmental Concern and Ambivalence

ABSTRACTThe “White male effect” has been presented in past literature as a way to explain the tendency for White males to have lower environmental concern and risk perceptions than female and non-White individuals. Recently, research has proposed the “White male effect” may be a “conservative White male effect,” due to findings that political ideology impacts environmental concern. This study used a sample of young college-educated adults from Generation Z to test whether the conservative White male effect is present for environmental concern and ambivalence toward a proenvironmental worldview in this younger generation. Online surveys were distributed to undergraduate students at a large northeastern university in spring of 2016. A total of 1,940 surveys were returned. Results showed a lack of a unique White male, or conservative White male, effect above and beyond differences explained by gender, Whiteness, and political affiliation. The implications of this effect’s absence are discussed.

Acceptance profiles for a carbon-derived foam mattress. Exploring and segmenting consumer perceptions of a carbon capture and utilization product

Abstract Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) has the potential to limit or reduce atmospheric releases of carbon dioxide (CO2) and replace fossil resource use by providing – among other utilization routes - saleable plastics. Apart from technical, environmental, or economic aspects in the development of eco-innovative technologies such as carbon capture and utilization and its products, the public perception and acceptance of carbon-derived products need to be considered as decisive factors for a successful deployment of carbon capture and utilization. Thus, this study aimed for an investigation of perception and acceptance of a product example (a foam mattress) of carbon capture and utilization among potential customers. Methodologically, an online survey was run to measure the acceptance of carbon-derived products, to segment subgroups, and to analyze the impact of individual factors on perception and acceptance of carbon-derived products. Findings revealed an overall positive perception of the carbon capture and utilization technology and the carbon-derived mattress as product example. Three subsegments of respondents, differing according to their willingness to buy and use a carbon-derived foam mattress, were identified based on individual attitudes and perceptions of carbon-derived foam mattresses. Environmental awareness, risk perceptions (health, sustainability), and socio-demographic factors played an important role in explaining differences among adoption subgroups according to carbon-derived product perception and acceptance. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainable technology and product acceptance and underline the importance of integrating individual factors into acceptance evaluations. They can be used to inform science and industry about substantial acceptance factors and adoption subgroups before eco-innovative products reach the market. This way, public perceptions can be timely integrated into the product development process of sustainable products and the development of communication strategies.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION OF READY-ON CLOTHING INDUSTRY

After the industrial revolution the interest of the countries especially the developed ones، increased with the environmental pollutants that affect the health of the workers. Environmental pollutants were classified in the work environment as the cause of their pollutants. These pollutants are called the physical pollutants in the work environment. These factors affect the health of the individual who is exposed as a result of their properties And not as a result of the chemical reaction between these factors and the body tissues where workers are exposed at the workplace to many of these risks and pollutants، which lead to the incidence of occupational diseases and accidents in work accidents and injuries، and the most important physical hazards (natural) Noise، heat، lighting and ventilation. The study aims to identify some of the health and psychological problems associated with air pollution in spinning and weaving factories. The researcher chose the sample of the study from one of the spinning and weaving factories (Esperanza Factory for Ready Made Garments). The total number of workers was (125) their (25) Each of the five departments (finishing - processing - management - dyeing - weaving)، where the researcher designed a questionnaire on the health problems associated with work in textile factories، the questionnaire of environmental risk perception questionnaire، the professional pressure scale، EISANQ Personal scale، to collect the data And application of the Sample Study . This study belongs to a number of descriptive studies that rely on descriptive methods. The study deals with some theories of environmental psychology that deal with the influence of psychological and physical factors in the work environment، such as the theory of environmental hardship، the curve of arousal، the environmental hardship. The researcher treated the data obtained statistically using T-Test، Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study concluded to several conclusions the most important: That there are no differences between the averages of the four sections on the occupational stress scale. There are differences between the averages of the four sections on the environmental risk questionnaire. There are differences between the averages of the four sections of the health questionnaire. There is a relationship of significant relativity between the finishing department and the management department in their average scores on the EISANQ scale.

Impact of African traditional worldviews on climate change adaptation.

Recent studies show cultural worldviews are a key determinant of environmental risk perceptions; thus, they could influence climate change adaptation strategies. African traditional worldviews encourage harmony between humans and the environment through a complex metaphysical belief system transmitted through folklore, taboos, and traditional knowledge. However, African traditional worldviews hold a belief in traditional gods that was shown to have a low connectedness to nature and a low willingness to change. In Makueni District, Kenya, 45% of agropastoralists surveyed believed drought was god's plan and could not be changed. In contrast, traditional knowledge, which is shaped by African traditional worldviews, is often used to frame adaptive strategies such as migration, changing modes of production, and planting different crop varieties. Furthermore, traditional knowledge has been used as a complement to science in areas where meteorological data was unavailable. However, the role of African traditional worldviews on climate change adaption remains understudied. Hence, there is a need to systematically establish the influence of African traditional worldviews on climate change risk perception, development of adaptive strategies, and policy formulation and implementation. In this commentary, we discuss the potential impacts of African traditional worldviews on climate change adaptation. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:189-193. © 2018 SETAC.

Factorial structure of the coastal flooding risk perception and validation of a French coastal flooding risk evaluation scale (CFRES) for non-experts

In a worrying context of increased coastal risks, we chose to determine the risk perception structure and validate a specific scale for coastal flooding using structural equation modeling and model comparison. The questionnaire is inspired by previous works on psychometric paradigm. Four principal environmental risk perception factors were isolated. This factorial structure was then confirmed in a cross-validation applied to a second sample of 291 participants plus a third sample of n = 315. Finally, a model comparison was performed to confirm the existence of a second-order factor “Risk Perception”. Primary results about risk perception are consistent with the existing literature: even if inhabitants of areas at risk of coastal flooding are aware of this risk, they feel little concerned by this risk for themselves and do not implement means of protection, even if they make a pessimistic assessment on a broader scale and for others.

Chronic anthropogenic noise disrupts glucocorticoid signaling and has multiple effects on fitness in an avian community

Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive pollutant that decreases environmental quality by disrupting a suite of behaviors vital to perception and communication. However, even within populations of noise-sensitive species, individuals still select breeding sites located within areas exposed to high noise levels, with largely unknown physiological and fitness consequences. We use a study system in the natural gas fields of northern New Mexico to test the prediction that exposure to noise causes glucocorticoid-signaling dysfunction and decreases fitness in a community of secondary cavity-nesting birds. In accordance with these predictions, and across all species, we find strong support for noise exposure decreasing baseline corticosterone in adults and nestlings and, conversely, increasing acute stressor-induced corticosterone in nestlings. We also document fitness consequences with increased noise in the form of reduced hatching success in the western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), the species most likely to nest in noisiest environments. Nestlings of all three species exhibited accelerated growth of both feathers and body size at intermediate noise amplitudes compared with lower or higher amplitudes. Our results are consistent with recent experimental laboratory studies and show that noise functions as a chronic, inescapable stressor. Anthropogenic noise likely impairs environmental risk perception by species relying on acoustic cues and ultimately leads to impacts on fitness. Our work, when taken together with recent efforts to document noise across the landscape, implies potential widespread, noise-induced chronic stress coupled with reduced fitness for many species reliant on acoustic cues.

Interpreting Images of Fracking: How Visual Frames and Standing Attitudes Shape Perceptions of Environmental Risk and Economic Benefit

ABSTRACTThe news media’s increased reliance on visual communication to illustrate complex processes and promote learning stresses the importance of investigating how visual content impacts the understanding of scientific issues. In this paper, we investigate how members of the public interpret and make sense of differentially framed images of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) depicting environmental risk, economic benefit, or issue protest. For the analysis, a repeated measures online experiment was conducted with 250 participants to evaluate 40 photographs of fracking operations and consequences. Quantitative coding and thematic analysis of open-ended responses to the images reveal that standing attitudes, operationalized as support, opposition, or indecision about fracking, segments viewers into distinct groups and shapes interpretations of environmental risk and economic benefit. Issue opponents are more likely to indicate concern for the environment regardless of frame shown, whereas undecideds and supporters cite the impact on human health more frequently, largely in relation to job site safety. Supporters also see the least ambiguity, and most economic gains, in images about the controversial production practice.

Predicting farmers ’adoption of genetically modified vegetable crops in India: An ex-ante assessment of Bt-brinjal adoption behaviour and its determinants

An ex-ante study was carried in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh during the year 2014–15 to assess the farmers’ Bt-brinjal adoption decision and its determinants. Data was collected on the aspects of Bt-brinjal adoption decision and its potential determinants from 120 farmers. Adoption behaviour prediction model was developed using logistic regression. It was found that majority of farmers (61.67%) were willing to adopt Btbrinjal, if released in future. It was also found that health risk perception (β =-0.113, p < 0.01) and socio-economic risk perception (β =-0.127, p = 0.02) negatively influence the farmers willingness to adopt Bt-brinjal, whereas past experience in cultivation of agrobiotech crops (β = 2.01, p = 0.017) was found to have significant positive influence on adoption decision. Interestingly, factors like regulatory, ethical, environmental and biodiversity risk perception have no significant influence on the farmers’ adoption decision for Bt-brinjal. Based on this study, we concluded that from policy perspective for successful adoption, genetically modified (GM) vegetable crops must be first introduced in the areas where GM crops (i.e. Bt-cotton) are already under cultivation and efforts should be made to reduce the health and socio-economic risk perception among the farmers.

The Dynamics of Trust in the Shanghai Water Supply Regime.

Trust in natural resource managers and planners is recognized as a crucial component of the public's perception of environmental risks, including the risk of consuming water in cities. Although China is famous for its dubious water quality, public perception of the performance of water suppliers in China has scarcely been considered. Yet this is important, not least because improvements in urban water quality are most likely if the public perceives that there is a risk, which is a function of their levels of trust. We, therefore, examine the Shanghai public's trust in urban water authorities through analysis of the results from a face-to-face questionnaire that 5007 residents responded to. We find that although respondents show a moderate level of overall trust in water suppliers, they have less trust in the honesty and fairness of these organizations. In addition, we find that hukou status and education help explain the differences in people's trust in Shanghai's water authorities, and that these are more influential than factors such as gender and age. For water managers in Shanghai, this implies trust can be improved through a greater effort at public relations and increased transparency about decision making and levels of pollution.

A scoping review of environmental health nursing research.

The purpose of this scoping review was to determine the extent and focus of published environmental health nursing research. The search was limited to peer reviewed, English-language environmental health nursing research with at least one nursing author, published between 1995 and 2015 in a nursing journal, and catalogued in CINAHL. Publication of the 548 identified articles occurred in 118 different nursing journals. Annual number of publications increased from nine articles in 1995 to 50 in 2013 and 2014. Most (63%) of the studies occurred in the Unnited States; the remaining studies took place in 33 other countries. Three primary focus areas were identified: disasters/disaster preparedness, occupational health, and the home environment. Other focus areas included environmental exposures, environmental risk perception, secondhand smoke, and environmental health education. The primary populations studied were nurses/nursing students (40%) and adults (26%). Most common research designs employed were cross-sectional (42%) and qualitative methods (20%). Findings from this scoping review support a global expansion of published environmental health nursing research addressing a variety of environmental health topics. Additional studies are needed that use more complex research methods and address timely topics such as climate change and sustainability.

Can power affect environmental risk attitude toward nuclear energy?

Nuclear safety has attracted attention from the government and general public. Research has focused on the psychological mechanisms underlying individuals’ environmental risk attitude toward nuclear energy. The aim of this study was to examine whether power affects environmental risk attitudes toward nuclear energy from the perspective of construal level theory and psychological distance theory, since these psychological mechanisms could underlie the influence of power on attitudes to risk. Three studies explored the environmental risk attitudes of participants with different levels of power toward environmental governance of nuclear energy. Results revealed that power affects environmental risk attitudes and perception, with low-power being associated with more risk-avoiding and negative attitude toward the development of nuclear energy relative to high-power. The results of the present study are discussed in reference to policy implications for nuclear energy, such as policy agenda, public participation, and risk communication.

Variation in perception of environmental change in nine Solomon Islands communities: implications for securing fairness in community-based adaptation

Community-based approaches are pursued in recognition of the need for place-based responses to environmental change that integrate local understandings of risk and vulnerability. Yet the potential for fair adaptation is intimately linked to how variations in perceptions of environmental change and risk are treated. There is, however, little empirical evidence of the extent and nature of variations in risk perception in and between multiple community settings. Here, we rely on data from 231 semi-structured interviews conducted in nine communities in Western Province, Solomon Islands, to statistically model different perceptions of risk and change within and between communities. Overall, people were found to be less likely to perceive environmental changes in the marine environment than they were for terrestrial systems. The distance to the nearest market town (which may be a proxy for exposure to commercial logging and degree of involvement with the market economy), and gender had the greatest overall statistical effects on perceptions of risk. Yet, we also find that significant environmental change is underreported in communities, while variations in perception are not always easily related to commonly assumed fault lines of vulnerability. The findings suggest that there is an urgent need for methods that engage with the drivers of perceptions as part of community-based approaches. In particular, it is important to explicitly account for place, complexity and diversity of environmental risk perceptions, and we reinforce calls to engage seriously with underlying questions of power, culture, identity and practice that influence adaptive capacity and risk perception.

Ecosystem services and main environmental risks in a coastal lagoon (Mar Menor, Murcia, SE Spain): The public perception

Coastal lagoons count among the marine habitats with the highest biological productivity, playing an important ecological role. Together with wetlands in general and coral reefs, they are also amongst the habitats with the highest value derived from the services they provide. This work aims to assess the natural goods and services provided by the Mar Menor coastal lagoon in Murcia (Spain), as well as the environmental risks it is exposed to. This ecosystem, as many coastal lagoons throughout the world, supports a great variety of important services but the resulting pressures are also the reasons that have led to its deterioration, showing signs of impact, whether environmental, social and even economic. In 2011 the European Commission proposed a common strategy on biodiversity, in an attempt to avoid its decline, and claim it as one of the main bases for sustainable economic development. In this context, this work also looks at the socioeconomic value of this emblematic environment using the contingent valuation method (CVM). A questionnaire was developed and presented to inhabitants and visitors of the Mar Menor area, including a broad representation of professions and activities, to identify stakeholder perception of the environment and how they evaluate the importance of ecological processes for maintaining ecosystem functioning and the goods and services provided.The perception and valuation of goods and services provided by ecosystem functioning and biodiversity in the Mar Menor lagoon depended on the different groups considered (by age, professional activity, residence, educational background or sex), although in general, stakeholders, including fishermen, perceived that tourism services are the most important. Interestingly, the sectors related to construction and fishing were well aware of the risks derived from their own activities.The evaluation of services and the perception of the principal environmental risks and impacts were high for all the groups of users considered, and the indirect use and non-use value of the lagoon ecosystem conservation was established in 43,326,181 Euros/year.