Perceptions of Mercury Risk and Its Management

ABSTRACT

Anthropogenic activities, such as coal burning for electricity generation, release mercury (Hg), a toxic, bioaccumulative pollutant with potential health impacts primarily borne by specific population groups such as women of child-bearing age and subsistence fishers. Current Hg risk communication efforts and much of the extant research on Hg risk perceptions focus on these groups most at-risk. Little is known about the perceptions of Hg risk among the general public, although their support is required for implementing Hg emissions mitigation policies. We report results from two surveys—one a U.S. nationally representative Internet survey and the other a mail survey of New England residents—on a range of perceptions of the general population regarding Hg risk and its management. Our analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the surveys point toward some gaps in public understanding of Hg risk, on aspects such as sources of mercury release, agencies responsible for mercury information, and products that contain mercury. Our results suggest that agencies responsible for providing Hg information should go beyond fish advisories and enhance their efforts at wider dissemination of information on Hg risk and its management.

Key Words:

• mercury
• risk perception
• risk communication

Notes

Fish consumption advisories are issued by states, local, and tribal governments to recommend limits on the consumption of fish caught in water bodies contaminated by chemical pollutants such as Hg and polychlorinated biphenyls. Advisories are issued for the general population as well as particular population groups such as pregnant women and children. According to the figures for 2006, approximately 35% of lake acreage and 25% of river miles in the United States were under fish advisories for Hg (Estimated from USEPA's National Listing of Fish Advisories website, http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/advisories/2006/tech.html)

A notable omission from the list is the Federal Drug Administration, which is involved with the USEPA in disseminating information on fish advisories.

Figure 2. Frequency at which information is obtained from various sources of Hg information (New England respondents). The numbers within the bars represent mean values.

FWS is responsible only for the impact of Hg on fish and wildlife. The management of human health risks from Hg is primarily a responsibility of the USEPA at the federal level.

New England Mail Survey: (i) Recycling—Green Power (paired-sample t-test, diff. in mean = 1.33, t = 18.2, df = 305, p < .001) and (ii) Green Power—Writing Letter (paired-sample t-test, diff. in mean = 0.52, t = 6.8, df = 303, p < .001) National Internet Survey: (i) Recycling—Green Power (paired-sample t-test, diff. in mean = 1.35, t = 30.8, df = 760, p < .001) and (ii) Green Power—Writing Letter (paired-sample t-test, diff. in mean = 0.3, t = 6.98, df = 761, p < .001)