Understanding the translation of scientific knowledge about arsenic risk exposure among private well water users in Nova Scotia
Understanding the translation of scientific knowledge about arsenic risk exposure among private well water users in Nova Scotia
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DOI：
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.108
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发表时间：
2015-02-01
影响因子：
9.8
通讯作者：
Dummer, Trevor J. B.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Chappells, Heather;Campbell, Norma;Dummer, Trevor J. B.
砷是一种I类人类致癌物质，已被确认为地下水供应中仅次于病原体污染的第二大全球健康问题。水文地质评估显示，天然存在的砷广泛存在于美国东北部和加拿大东部的地下水中。关于这些砷流行区私人水井使用者接触砷风险的知识尚未得到充分探索，但对水质看法的研究表明，对环境风险的公共评估和科学评估之间始终存在偏差。本文根据水样分析，评估了居住在新斯科舍省5个地区、被评估为地下水中砷存在可变风险(高-低)的水井使用者的人口横截面对砷风险暴露的知识。综合知识-行动(KTA)方法被用来全面评估个人、社会和当地因素对井水污染风险的认知，以及将知识转化为常规水测试行为的情况。对水井用户调查数据(n=420)的分析表明，对井水质量的高度信心与砷暴露的相对风险或房主遵守政府检测建议无关。调查和深入的Well用户访谈(n=32)的进一步分析发现，Well用户对风险的评估受到个人经验、当地知识、社交网络和基础设施的便利程度的影响，而不是受到正式的信息渠道的影响，这些渠道基本上无法接触到他们的目标受众。对代表政府健康和环境机构的利益攸关方(n=15)的访谈的见解被用来反思将科学知识转化为公众意识和管理行为的体制障碍。讨论了利用当地知识经纪人、基于社区的网络和监管激励来提高风险知识和支持私人油井用户的常规测试。(C)2014爱思唯尔B.V.保留所有权利。
Arsenic is a class I human carcinogen that has been identified as the second most important global health concern in groundwater supplies after contamination by pathogenic organisms. Hydrogeological assessments have shown naturally occurring arsenic to be widespread in groundwater across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Knowledge of arsenic risk exposure among private well users in these arsenic endemic areas has not yet been fully explored but research on water quality perceptions indicates a consistent misalignment between public and scientific assessments of environmental risk. This paper evaluates knowledge of arsenic risk exposure among a demographic cross-section of well users residing in 5 areas of Nova Scotia assessed to be at variable risk (high-low) of arsenic occurrence in groundwater based on water sample analysis. An integrated knowledge-to-action (KTA) methodological approach is utilized to comprehensively assess the personal, social and local factors shaping perception of well water contaminant risks and the translation of knowledge into routine water testing behaviors. Analysis of well user survey data (n = 420) reveals a high level of confidence in well water quality that is unrelated to the relative risk of arsenic exposure or homeowner adherence to government testing recommendations. Further analysis from the survey and in-depth well user interviews (n = 32) finds that well users' assessments of risk are influenced by personal experience, local knowledge, social networks and convenience of infrastructure rather than by formal information channels, which are largely failing to reach their target audiences. Insights from interviews with stakeholders representing government health and environment agencies (n = 15) are used to reflect on the institutional barriers that mediate the translation of scientific knowledge into public awareness and stewardship behaviors. The utilization of local knowledge brokers, community-based networks and regulatory incentives to improve risk knowledge and support routine testing among private well users is discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.