Urban anglers' perception of risk from contaminated fish

Pflugh, Kerry Kirk; Lurig, Lynette; Hagen, Leigh Ann Von; Hagen, Stanley Von; Burger, Joanna

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(99)00048-0

Cited by 58 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The general public might find it difficult to believe that consuming sea turtles could cause deleterious health effects because the potential harm may not have immediate ill effects or risks may be perceived to be too far in the future and too hypothetical to be taken seriously (Pflugh et al, 1999). Additionally, if the choice is between providing a meal for their families now or potentially becoming sick in the future, the perception of risk may be further diminished (Pflugh et al, 1999). On average, only 8% of residents were aware of specific health hazards found in regional sea turtles, regardless of age, occupation, and education.…”

Section: Perceptions and Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies have reported that seafood consumption may decrease after the onset of advisories (Oken et al, 2003;Shimshack et al, 2005) or new information (Johnson, 2004). However, many studies (Reinart et al, 1991;Velicer and Knuth, 1994;May and Burger, 1996;Pflugh et al, 1999;Burger, 2000;Jardine, 2003) also have found that people continue to eat fish from contaminated waters despite advisories, although this may be a function of not communicating to the specific target audience (Connelly and Knuth, 1998). Liu et al (1998) found that individuals responded more quickly to negative media attention (risks) than to positive information (benefits) concerning fish consumption.…”

Section: Implications and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This information suggested a need for additional research aimed at understanding the perceptions and attitudes of those individuals who may consume sea turtles (i.e., the general public) and those who may serve as a trusted information source or risk communicator (i.e., physicians), as well as how different factors (i.e., sex, age, occupation, education, and location) may or may not affect these perceptions. Rather than make broad assumptions (Morgan and Lave, 1990), we believed that more detailed information should be obtained from the target groups (Pflugh et al, 1999). Therefore, we interviewed 134 local residents and 37 regional physicians to: (1) examine their knowledge and perceptions concerning these risks, as a function of sex, age, occupation, education, and location; (2) document the occurrence of illness resulting from consumption; and (3) identify information needs for effective risk communication.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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To Eat or not to Eat an Endangered Species: Views of Local Residents and Physicians on the Safety of Sea Turtle Consumption in Northwestern Mexico

et al. 2009

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Sea turtles have historically been an important food resource for many coastal inhabitants of Mexico. Today, the consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs continues in northwestern Mexico despite well-documented legal protection and market conditions providing easier access to other more reliable protein sources. Although there is growing evidence that consuming sea turtles may be harmful to human health due to biotoxins, environmental contaminants, viruses, parasites, and bacteria, many at-risk individuals, trusted information sources, and risk communicators may be unaware of this information. Therefore, we interviewed 134 residents and 37 physicians in a region with high rates of sea turtle consumption to: (1) examine their knowledge and perceptions concerning these risks, as a function of sex, age, occupation, education and location; (2) document the occurrence of illness resulting from consumption; and (3) identify information needs for effective risk communication. We found that 32% of physicians reported having treated patients who were sickened from sea turtle consumption. Although physicians believed sea turtles were an unhealthy food source, they were largely unaware of specific health hazards found in regional sea turtles, regardless of location. By contrast, residents believed that sea turtles were a healthy food source, regardless of sex, age, occupation, and education, and they were largely unaware of specific health hazards found in regional sea turtles, regardless of age, occupation, and education. Although most residents indicated that they would cease consumption if their physician told them it was unhealthy, women were significantly more likely to do so than men. These results suggest that residents may lack the necessary knowledge to make informed dietary decisions and physicians do not have enough accurate information to effectively communicate risks with their patients.

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Section: Perceptions and Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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To Eat or not to Eat an Endangered Species: Views of Local Residents and Physicians on the Safety of Sea Turtle Consumption in Northwestern Mexico

et al. 2009

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“…Of particular interest was whether people who consume large quantities of fish or crabs have different reasons for the activity. While previous work has examined some of these questions (Burger et al, 1999a;Pflugh et al, 1999), these studies did not examine or relate the reasons why people fish to their fishing behaviour or consumption patterns. Understanding the reasons people fish may provide added information for risk communicators by distinguishing between the pleasures of fishing and the risks of consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish consumption advisories: knowledge, compliance and why people fish in an urban estuary

Burger

2004

Journal of Risk Research

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The risk to human consumers from contaminants in fish is often dealt with by issuing consumption advisories. The hypothesis that consumption rates vary as a function of knowledge about advisories was tested for 254 people fishing in the Newark Bay Complex, in the New York/New Jersey harbour estuary. Interviews were conducted in the complex throughout the fishing season. There were no ethnic differences in the percentage of people who fished, crabbed, or did both, Most people either fished or crabbed, but not both, which has implications for risk assessment and communication. Only 45% of the people interviewed had heard about advisories; American Indians had heard little about fish advisories, and Hispanics had heard little about crab advisories. There were ethnic differences in education, consumption patterns, and knowledge about advisories. Knowledge about consumption advisories and the amount of fish and crabs consumed are negatively correlated. Despite laws forbidding catching (and consuming) crabs from Newark Bay Complex, people continue to do so. A higher percentage of people who consume the most fish and crabs are aware of consumption advisories, compared to those at the low end of consumption, but people who consume no fish or crabs from the Newark Bay Complex have the highest level of knowledge. There are few differences in the ratings of the reasons for fishing between those who are, and are not, aware of advisories. Since people mainly fish and crab to be outdoors and with friends and family, relax, and commune with nature, risk assessors and communicators should acknowledge the social and aesthetic nature of the activity, and address consumption by separating the activity (fishing, crabbing) from the risk (pregnant women and children should limit consumption).

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“…Recently, the risks incurred by Hispanics with respect to fish consumption Kirk-Pflugh et al, 1999), and recreational rates (Burger, 2000b) have been examined.…”

Section: Ethnic Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the future land use of a contaminated site: Preferences versus potential use

Burger

2004

Remediation Journal

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Worldwide, agencies with high levels of contamination are faced with decisions about remediation and restoration. These decisions should be informed by future land use and long-term stewardship goals. In the United States, the Department of Energy has lands in some 34 states that require cleanup. They are involved in massive remediation and restoration efforts on lands from the Cold War legacy and wish to reduce their overall footprint. Understanding future land use preferences is essential for determining the nature and degree of remediation and restoration. The objective of this study was to examine future land use preferences for the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory as a function of ethnicity for attendees at the Los Alamos Gun Show in New Mexico (1999), and to determine whether their own activity influences future land use preferences. The highest preferred future land uses for Los Alamos National Laboratory were hiking, camping, National Environmental Research Park, and birdwatching, followed by hunting and fishing. Increased nuclear waste storage and building homes and factories were rated the lowest. Further, hiking and camping were rated higher than at two other DOE sites. There were few ethnic differences, although American Indians rated camping, hiking, building houses, and returning the land to American Indians higher than did others, and Hispanics rated using it for a preserve as a higher preferred land use than all others. The differences, however, were not great.Relative ratings for using the land for hunting and fishing were directly related to individual frequency of hunting and fishing for both whites and Hispanics, indicating that people perceive the importance of land use by how they want to use it. Ratings for hiking and camping were not related to the number of days people hiked and camped, suggesting these are general preferences overall.

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Urban anglers' perception of risk from contaminated fish

Cited by 58 publications

References 28 publications

To Eat or not to Eat an Endangered Species: Views of Local Residents and Physicians on the Safety of Sea Turtle Consumption in Northwestern Mexico

To Eat or not to Eat an Endangered Species: Views of Local Residents and Physicians on the Safety of Sea Turtle Consumption in Northwestern Mexico

Fish consumption advisories: knowledge, compliance and why people fish in an urban estuary

Study of the future land use of a contaminated site: Preferences versus potential use

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