Abstract:

This paper sets forth the results of a recent study of public, neighbour and worker attitudes toward chemical companies in general, and toward chemicals and cancer risk in particular. Some of the results of that study are summarised in this paper. In general, chemical workers were found to have attitudes more favourable toward their industry, and less concern over workplace risks, than did the general public. In contrast, the chemical industry's neighbours were substantially less favourable toward the chemical industry, and had greater apprehension over chemical risks, than the general public. Barely a quarter of each group studied considered themselves well informed about cancer and cancer risks.