risk and exposure perception in europe. the emf...
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Risk and exposure perception in Europe.
The EMF case
20ème Journée Interactions Ondes-Personnes
Jeudi 19 Décembre 2013
Peter M. Wiedemann
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Starting point
Objective
The LEXNET project aims to develop effective mechanisms to
reduce 50% of the public exposure to EMF, without
compromising the quality of service.
-> More acceptance?
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Scientific argument
Risk=Hazard + exposure
The probability of adverse effects
if exposed to a hazard.
Minimization of exposure ->
reduction of risk, if there is any
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The missing link
• Exposure minimization
• More acceptance
• Exposure perception
• Risk perception
Exposure -> exposure perception -> risk perception -> acceptance
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• Size of the exposure source
Exposure perception
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• Size of the exposure source
• Distance to the exposure sources
Exposure perception
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• Size of the exposure source
• Distance to the exposure sources
• Duration of the exposure
Exposure perception
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• Size of the exposure source
• Distance to the exposure sources
• Duration of the exposure
• Number of exposures sources
Exposure perception
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• Size of the exposure source
• Distance to the exposure sources
• Duration of the exposure
• Number of exposures sources
• Time of day of exposure
Exposure perception
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• Size of the exposure source
• Distance to the exposure sources
• Duration of the exposure
• Number of exposures sources
• Time of day of exposure
• Transmitting power
Exposure perception
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• Size of the exposure source
• Distance to the exposure sources
• Duration of the exposure
• Number of exposures sources
• Time of day of exposure
• Transmitting power
• Frequency of exposure
Exposure perception
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Results of a regression analysis of the perceived
exposure characteristics on EMF risk perception
Beta values are indicated
R2= 0.118
0.056
0.069
0.008
0.138
0.139
0.114
0.128
Trasmitting power
Duration*
Distance
Frequency*
Number of sources*
Physical size*
Time of the day*
How do people link exposure and risk?
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Agenda revised
Issue:
Why does exposure perception only marginally impact risk
perception?
Questions:
• Do we properly conceptualize and measure risk perception?
– Is risk perception really perception?
– Do we have to reconsider our concept of risk perception?
• Does this reconsideration improve our knowledge of
appropriate EMF risk communication that supports the Lexnet
expectation?
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Risk perception can be based on perception.
Is risk perception really perception?
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Sometimes we aren't able to perceive risks.
Caution: Genetically modified corn!
Is risk perception really perception?
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Is risk perception really perception?
We are not able to perceive EMF risk potentials.
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Interim conclusion 1
• Risk perception can be based on perceptions or descriptions.
• RF EMF Risk perception is based on descriptions.
• However, what means description?
– Is it statistical information?
– Scientific information?
– Other kinds of information?
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Risk = hazard + exposure
Risk perception = hazard
perception + exposure perception?
Do we have to rethink our concept of
risk perception?
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Risk perception
Do we have to rethink our concept of risk
perception?
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Hazard based risk
perception
• Affective heuristics
• Moral heuristics
Risk based risk perception
(hazard + exposure)
• Cognitive heuristics
Do we have to rethink our concept of risk
perception?
Risk perception can be based on different psychological foundations
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Affective heuristics
Refer to the hazard
Affective heuristics
• Negative affective evaluation
• Outrage
• Probability neglect
• No go!
• Hazard is stigmatized
Affects can hardly be changed by education and information.
Exposure communication can not make any difference.
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Moral heuristics
Refer to the hazard
Various moral heuristics:
• Purity (Do not tamper with nature)
• Fairness (Do not ignore citizen´s
interests)
• Care (Do not knowingly cause a
human death)
It is hardly possible to negotiate
about morals.
Exposure minimization will not be a
crucial argument.
Human beings and all life on this planet
evolved in harmony with the earth’s
natural electromagnetic field and
gravity… But unnatural EMF’s mess up
our bodies…
http://www.loverescue.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id
13:electro-magnetic-pollution-emf&catid=48:health-concerns&Itemid=83
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Cognitive heuristics
Refer to the risk
-> exposure and probability of harm
If risk perception is based on risk than communicating exposure
minimization will have a chance to be effective.
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Cognitive heuristics
Caveat
Exposure minimization
can be seen as a signal
that the hazard is real!
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Interim conclusion 2
• Risk perception - may refer to (1) hazard or to (2)
hazard and exposure.
• If risk perception is based on affective or moral
evaluation of a hazard than exposure does not play any
role.
• Consequently, any information about a change of
exposure will not influence risk perception or
acceptance.
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Implications for risk communication
In the Lexnet project, risk communication should help the general public
• to understand that technological solutions can reduce the exposure,
• to acquire knowledge about the conditions that determine the exposure strength.
In order to reach these objectives, risk communication should focus on the information processing on which risk perception is based.
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Implications for risk communication
Precondition:
• Transition from hazard based risk perception towards risk
based risk perception
• Replacement of affective and moral hazard evaluation by
cognitive heuristics, i.e. subjects should take into account
exposure characteristics.
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Comprehensive communication strategy:
• To prevent negative side effects of communicating exposure
minimization strategies,
– i.e., to prevent the wrong interpretation that efforts regarding the
minimization of RF EMF exposure indicates the existence of a RF EMF
health risk.
• To support intuitive evaluation of minimization strategies
– i.e., to foster proper knowledge about most important exposure
conditions
Implications for risk communication
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Taking home messages
• Minimization of RF EMF without compromising quality of
service is an important aim.
• Whether this strategy results in an improved acceptance of
wireless technology is an open question.
• It will depend on the accompanying communication efforts in
order to prevent negative side effects and increase the right
knowledge about exposure conditions.
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Thank you, Merci!
The paper is supported by LEXNET, a European Project supported through
the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological
Development.