Download The public perception of risk. Fear , fact and fiction.

The public perception of risk.
Fear , fact and fiction.
Sterling Crew
Head of Technical Kolak Snack Foods Ltd.
Vice President IFST.
The public perception of risk
Separating the fear from the facts.
What drives public behaviour.
Balance V Bias.
The role of the EHP.
What is Risk ?
A function of :
 The likelihood or probability that a particular threat
will materialise.
 The impact or consequences that may result
Risk management is at the core of
everything EHP’s do .
Its key to Public Health the
Environment and the welfare of our
communities.
Perception of Risk
Chances of dying in a year
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Smoking 10 cigarettes per day
Influenza
Involved in a car accident
Asteroid hitting earth
Plane Crash
Playing Soccer
Homicide
Struck by Lightening
Winning the Lottery
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1 in 200
1 in 5,000
1 in 8,000
1 in 20,000
1 in 20,000
1 in 25,000
1 in 100,000
1 in 10 million
1 in 14 million
Chemophobia
 Chemicals are unnatural ,
unnecessary and unsafe .
 Nature is benign wholesome and
good for us.
Would You Ban it?
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It’s a major component of acid rain
It contributes to erosion
It decreases the effectiveness of car brakes
In its vapour state it is a major greenhouse gas
In vapour form it can cause burns
It can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
Accidental inhalation can kill you
Found in tumours of terminal cancer patients
81% would ban it
19% did not know
DiHydrogen Monoxide
Trust nature beware of chemicals
Chemical free products.
Would you drink a cocktail of :
butanol,
isoamyl alcohol,
geraniol,
3- galloyl epicatechin,
inorganic salts,
Caffeine ?
Naturals
“It is natural - so of course it is safe”
“Synthetic is bad for you”
Plants are chemical factories
Balance verses bias.
The anthropogenic climate change debate .
Too much weight has been given to unqualified sceptics
in the pursuit of balance.
The landmark UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) research project concluded with a 95%
certainty that the climate is changing and that human
activity is the main driver
Genetically Modified Organisms.
What are the issues?
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Human Safety
Environmental Safety
Biodiversity.
Corperate control.
Information and
labelling
 Choice
Benefits
The cost ?
The cost ?
500 products withdrawn.
£100 million.
Distress .
Consumer fatigue.
The only safe substance is one that the
toxicologist has not tested yet!
Poison is in the dose.
Consumer Concerns
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Insecurity
Human health and safety
Morality and ethics
Animal welfare
Socio-economic
Direct & indirect environmental effects
Lack of trust for the scientist in the white coat
Disempowerment
Environmental Health Practitioner
 Keep an open mind.
 Not all challenge is bad nor should be ignored.
 Cooperate and influence media. Government and
NGOs.
 Challenge poor or distorted science .
 Separate Fear from Fact –Evidence based .
 Enable consumer to make informed choice.
 You cannot live in a risk-free environment.
 THINK LIKE A CONSUMER.