Public perception of risks associated with contaminated glassworks sites in south-eastern Sweden

Glass has been produced for centuries in Kalmar and Kronoberg Counties in south-eastern Sweden. This industry has lead to severe soil contaminations, particularly due to the historical use of lead, cadmium and arsenic. People may be exposed to heavy metals for example via direct soil contact or consumption of locally produced food. The residents’ risk perception was investigated in this study. Do the public perceive a high risk for their own health, for future generations or for the environment, and are they worried? Is there a difference if you live close to the glass factory? Is there a desire for more information about possible risks? With the aim to answer these questions, a questionnaire was sent to 599 individuals in Kalmar and Kronoberg counties. In order to reach people living close to glassworks, half of the questionnaires were sent to randomly selected individuals in four small communities with glassworks and the other half to randomly selected individuals in the two counties. Two groups were compared, one with respondents living 1 km or closer and one living 1 km or more away from a glassworks. The results showed that the respondents were more concerned about risks for the environment than their health. People living close to the glassworks were more worried and perceived a higher risk for the environment, the health and for future generations compared to people living more than 1 km away from glassworks. There was no difference in trust in authorities or consultancies that work with risk assessments, but people that lived close to the glassworks were somewhat keener on having more information about possible risks. About half of the respondents in this group wanted more information about risks, which indicate that there may be a need for an improved risk communication and exchange of information between authorities, researchers and the public.