Communication with the public

The exposure of the target population to PBLx has been assessed by a group of internationally recognized experts. The estimate of the exposure is 0.34 pg/kg body weight per day. Normally, this value is communicated with an estimate of toxicity or together with toxicology-based target values, such as, for example, reference dose (RfD) or acceptable daily intake (ADI). 

The estimated exposure is based on some conservative assumptions, but it is not possible to specify the degree of conservatism. 

The above statement summarizes the outcomes of the exposure assessment. In order to additionally inform and provide balance for the public, it is important to accompany this statement with information about the risk management conclusions. For example  

Further investigations that clarify the variation over fish species, regional provenance and breeding (e.g. marine versus aquaculture) will be necessary to clarify the extent of variation in exposure. 

In the meantime, it is prudent to continue efforts/actions to progressively reduce the levels of exposure to chemicals such as PBLx (1) by means of an overall reduction of environmental pollution and/or (2) by reducing the possible substance uptake through avoiding the consumption of highly contaminated fish species and/or by (3) reducing the frequency of consumption or reduction of meal sizes. 

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Technical language and jargon are useful as professional shorthand, but they are barriers to successful communication with the public. Use simple, nontechnical language and vivid, concrete images that communicate on a personal level. Avoid distant, abstract, unfeeling language about deaths, injuries, and illnesses. 

Speak elearly and with eonipassion. Tcclmical language and jargon are useful as professional shorthand, but tliey are barriers to successful communication with the public. 

Each operating company shall have a means of communicating with the public officials and public communications media during an emergency. 

The short-term actions include (1) establishment of a priority list of substances for further evaluation of their role in endocrine disruption monitoring levels of suspect chemicals in food and the environment (2) identification of vulnerable groups of people (such as children) who need to be given special consideration (3) establishment of an international network to enable information exchange and coordination of research and testing and (4) communication with the public and continuing consultation with stakeholders. 

Rowland, F. S., President s Lecture The Need for Scientific Communication with the Public, Science, 290, 1571-1576(1993). Rowland, F. S., and M. J. Molina, Ozone Depletion 20 Years after the Alarm, Chem. Eng. News, August 15, 8-13 (1994). 

A variety of methods have been utilized to communicate with the public and to solicit public input regarding chemical weapons destruction. Public information sessions have a very narrow dynamic. A few representatives from the Army, usually public affairs officers, are positioned at the front of the room and the citizens primarily serve an audience role. At some point in the hearing, the members of the public are invited to express their concerns or their support or to ask questions about a decision already made by the Army. This style of public interaction is often called Decide, Announce, Defend , and it offers very little in the way of a constructive role for the pubhc in actual decision-making. 

The European Food Safety Authority has been established to provide independent scientific advice and support for the Community legislation and policies that may have a direct or indirect effect on food and feed safety. It will provide independent information on all matters within its remit and communicate with the public and other interested... 

To be sure, each disaster, whether natural or man-made, poses different problems for the response community with respect to mass-mediated public information. All crisis situations, though, call for steadfast leadership that needs to be projected by those who communicate with the public. Studying a shining example from past disasters, for instance, Rudy Giuliani s in New York City, may be a good way to prepare for future crisis situations. 

Issues related to effective communication with the public. 

Iglewski B (1989) Communicating with the public a new scientific imperative. ASM News 55(6) 306. 

Managers also need to improve their communications with the public on matters of risk. For reasons we reviewed in the preceding chapter, public understanding of risk information is generally poor and the public s perceptions do not match the judgments of experts. The effective manager needs to appreciate these matters and keep them firmly in mind when planning to explain decisions to the public. 

However, the key institution for facilitating communications with the public is the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office, funded by DOD and operated by a contractor (not, however, the systems contractor, Bechtel National, Inc.). The Outreach Office publishes fact sheets and newsletters, maintains a mailing list of 2,800, participates in local events such as the annual Safety Fair, operates a speakers bureau, and facilitates public meetings. Most important, it supports the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission (CAC) and a CAC subsidiary, the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board (CDCAB). 

A significant aspect of the responses to chemical events concerns when and how the event is communicated to local officials and the local public. While much of the focus of post-event response is necessarily on the requirements of the formal regulatory process, interactions with the affected local officials and public have important implications as well. From the perspectives of the public and their officials, chemical events are largely involuntary risks that are potentially catastrophic and of technological origin. These characteristics render chemical events and incidents subject to substantial social amplification in which the characteristics of the events interact with individuals perceptions of the risk associated with them and the pattern of communication with the public and their response to both the event and the communication (Kasperson, 1992 Kasperson et al., 1988). 

Society will decide what is a socially acceptable risk. Toxicologists should learn to communicate with the public to provide the basis for such decisions. The chemical risks are summarized in... 

Sessions 19 and 20 were held in a series, the former representing the second part and focusing on issues of risk assessment methods, use of the results for risk management decisions and to communicate with the public. E. D. Caldas (Univ. of Brasilia, Brazil) presented the new JMPR methods for estimating consumer exposures and examples of the impact of better data. Y.-B. He (Ministry of Agriculture, China) presented methods used by China to estimate exposure and to... 

Responsible Care programs have two components the first is to strive to improve health, safety, and environmental performance the second is to allay public fears and concerns regarding the process industries. The need for communication with the public is particularly important because most process companies and facilities do not produce products that are used directly by members of the public—hence these companies are perceived as being remote and irrelevant to peoples lives. 

It is important that the press and the public be informed of what is going on at die site, particularly if anyone is in any danger. Facility management should take the initiative when communicating with the public, and they should be open and as forthright as possible (given that there will be... 

It is also necessary to develop a plan for communicating with the public and outside agencies, as discussed by Wilson (1992). 

Public communications fall into two broad categories. First, the public has to be informed about the industrial process itself, and—in general terms— what risks it poses to the community. The second type of communication with the public concerns the public s involvement in emergency response. Were the worst to happen, and there were to be a serious incident (either a fire or release of toxic materials), the correct response of people living in the neighborhood could easily be a matter of life or death. Community emergency notification, warning, and response issues should be addressed as part of the risk communication process. 

The annual environmental progress report has become an important means of communication with the public and also a tool for further anchoring the company s commitment in-house (Figure 7.12). Putting environmental issues into perspective by means of voluntary reporting is thought to be preferable to risking bad environmental press. 

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