GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING RISK COMMUNICATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL-HEALTH

Effective risk communication can be a vital element in the development and implementation of environmental health policies, standards, regul ations, and practices. Increasingly, and largely due to past failures, regulatory, agencies and industries concerned with environmental heal th have recognized the importance of effective risk communication. Acc ording to many investigators, the fundamental causes of miscommunicati on about environmental health risks derive from differing perceptions of the significance of various risks between experts and the public. W hile there are no easy solutions to the problems inherent in environme ntal health risk communication, it helps to have a realistic goal that focuses on increasing the understanding of all involved parties of th e associated problems, issues, and potential solutions. In addition, m any positive steps can be taken to improve the dialogue between dispar ate groups, while developing effective risk communication programs. Ef fective programs generally have three major attributes. They are proac tive, ongoing, and cooperative. The rewards of such a program are bett er informed citizens, increased public trust, and the cultivation of p otential allies in the pursuit of environmental health objectives.