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Superfund and one community program
Author(s) -
Pavlova Maria T.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700230125
Subject(s) - superfund , agency (philosophy) , hazardous waste , medicine , environmental health , environmental planning , information dissemination , public health , state agency , public relations , environmental protection , environmental resource management , regulatory agency , nursing , public administration , engineering , political science , philosophy , environmental science , epistemology , world wide web , computer science , waste management
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—Region II conducted a pilot program in risk communication and notification of hazardous waste information at a Superfund site in Toms River, New Jersey. The program was designed to assess the levels of awareness and concern among local citizens and to provide accurate information about health risks associated with potential exposure to environmental contaminants. The purpose of this program was to develop linkages among the community; local, state, and federal governments; industry; health professionals; and educators in dealing with environmental problems. A Community Leaders Network was formed and became actively involved in the program. Following a community needs assessment for risk information, a series of fact sheets was developed, pretested, disseminated, and evaluated. The analysis of the program highlights the important lesson of being able to respond to the specific changing dynamics of the community and offers guidelines useful for risk communication in many communities. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.