Abstract

This project examines how health departments (federal, state, and county) communicate with local residents during the investigation of suspect cancer rates in their communities.

Issue

Every day in the United States, on average, three communities reach a sufficient state of alarm to call their state health department for assistance in the investigation of a suspected cancer cluster an unusual and unexplained increase in the occurrence of cancer in space and time. State health departments investigate about a third of these complaints in one way or another, but find that very few cases (about 1%) feature suspect cancer rates, and almost none present a causal link to environmental carcinogens. Yet public concerns typically persist despite such reassurances. The subject of this project is the continuation and expansion of an established research project designed to examine the social and psychological circumstances surrounding citizen-initiated cancer cluster investigations, with an emphasis on two aspects: the effects of state health department communications, and the experiences of citizens and officials in public meetings held during these cases. This is a study of risk perception, risk communication, and public participation in risk analysis and decision making.

Response

To date, 30 communities nationwide have participated in the mail survey portion of the study. At present, we have completed our more detailed study of participation in public meetings in three of the 30 communities. We have presented research on the above 30-community sample at scientific and technical conferences and are currently collecting additional data for the public meeting analysis.

Impact

We are unable to assess changes at this time.

Funding Sources

• Other Federal non-USDA (e.g., NSF, NIH, DOA, DOD)

Topic Description

• community empowerment in environmental management

Collaborators

• University of Vermont

Key Personnel

• Katherine A. McComas, Cornell University
• Craig Trubmo, University of Vermont