Relative Risks of Dying from Involuntary Activities

Activity/Source Secondhand smoke at home Eating peanut butter  

There are several general statements that can be made regarding the general perception of risk. These are summarized as follows  

Voluntary risks are accepted more readily than those that are imposed Risks under individual control are accepted more readily that those under government control 

Risks that seem fair are more acceptable than those that seem unfair 

We have already discussed the first of these points. The second point relates to the controllability of the risk. As shown on figure 9.1, risk associated with over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, antibiotics, and oral contraceptives will be more accepted than those associated with air pollution, pesticides, or electric fields because we have more control over the former. Even if the risks are identical, the ability to control our exposure to some degree makes the risk seem lower. This is one reason why reports like those discussed in chapter 2 for Alar, a plant growth regulator formerly used on apples, lead to concern over possible risks. The use of Alar on apples was allowed under United States regulations, which is considered less tolerable than if the decision were made by the general public to allow its use on apples. 

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