IF THIS IS WHAT ITS DOING TO OUR WASHING, WHAT IS IT DOING TO OUR LUNGS - INDUSTRIAL-POLLUTION AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING IN NORTHEAST ENGLAND

An epidemiological study of the impact of industrial pollution from a coking works in north-east England on the health of a population resid ent nearby uncovered strong but localised public concern about the pos sible dangers of air pollution. This paper discusses these popular con cerns in the context of empirical findings from the study which examin ed evidence of ill-health alongside evidence on air quality levels. Th e substantive issues this paper examines relate to local variations in popular beliefs about health risks, and the relation between such bel iefs and measurable differences in health states and status. The metho dological issues addressed centre on the difficulties of interpreting this relationship between popular beliefs and concerns, on the one han d, and health experience, or apparent health experience, on the other.