Pavlodar Chemical Plant, May 2007
Arani Kajenthira Photo
"The Role of Qualitative Risk Assessment in Environmental Management: A Kazakhstani Case Study"
Journal Article, Science of the Total Environment, volume 420, pages 24-32
March 2012
Authors: Arani Kajenthira, Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, John Holmes, Rachael McDonnell
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Science, Technology, and Public Policy
ABSTRACT
Successful environmental management is partly contingent on the effective recognition and communication of environmental health risks to the public. Yet risk perceptions are known to differ between experts and laypeople; laypeople often exhibit higher perceptions of risk in comparison to experts, particularly when these risks are associated with radiation, nuclear power, or nuclear waste. This paper consequently explores stakeholder risk perceptions associated with a mercury-contaminated chloralkali production facility in Kazakhstan. Using field observations and in-depth interviews conducted in the vicinity of the Pavlodar Chemical Plant, this work assesses the relevance of the substantial on-site mercury contamination to the health and livelihoods of the local population with the goal of informing remediation activity through a combination of quantitative and qualitative risk assessments. The findings of this research study cannot be broadly generalized to all the primary stakeholders of the site due to the small sample size; however, the indifference of the local population towards both the possibility of mercury-related health risks and the need for mitigation activity could pose a substantial barrier to successful site remediation and also suggests that a qualitative understanding of stakeholder risk perceptions could play an important role in striving towards sustainable, long-term environmental risk management.
Access the entire article here (log in required): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711015294
For more information about this publication please contact the STPP Program Assistant at 617-495-1498.
Full text of this publication is available at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711015294
For Academic Citation:
| MOST VIEWED PUBLICATIONS | POLICY BRIEF: AUTO EMISSIONS |
|---|---|
Policy Options for Reducing Oil Consumption and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector The goal of this paper is to contribute to the current policy debate about how to effectively limit or reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. transportation sector. |
