Air pollution health risk perception among residents in suburban urban and biancavilla areas in sicily( south italy): a cross sectional survey

Background/Aim Environmental risk perception is an important source of stress in exposed population. Limited evidence suggests an association between perceived and actual air quality and concern for health. The present survey explores the air pollution health risk perception among residents in urban, suburban and Biancavilla areas in Sicily (south Italy). Methods We carried out an observational cross-sectional survey involving 121 (52,1% females) subjects, median age 38 years (IQR 25.5-63.3). Participants answered a series of questions about demographic data, air pollution risk perception (Passive smoking, Air pollution from cars, Air pollution from industries, Eruption, Incinerator-landfill, Indoor air pollution, Asbestos/Fluoro-edenite ) and a list of 4 sources of information on health risks (TV and radio, Newspaper and magazines, Medical doctors, Internet). EuroQoL questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of life. A Risk Perception Index was used to express the propensity of respondents to rate environmental health issue as high health risks. Responses for each hazard were allocated a numerical result, with 1=no risk, 2=low risk, 3=moderate risk, and 4 = high risk and a mean response value was calculated. Bivariate analysis was performed. The level of significance was p ≤ 0.05. Results Subjects recruited in the three areas investigated had similar socio-demographic characteristics; they only differed in marital status (p=0.04). Urban residents showed significantly higher risk perception for industries air pollution than suburban and Biancavilla areas (p=0.027). The maximum risk perception was expressed for fluoroedenite by residents in Biancavilla. Internet was the higher confidence source of information on health risks (mean 3.53, 95%CI 3.43-3.64). Self-reported quality of life was no different in each of the three areas. Conclusions The results of the present study offer the opportunity to investigate health risk perception and its determinants. Understanding people’s risk perception leads to better risk communication and policy implementation.