Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 219A Perkins Hall, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
J Environ Manage. 2012 May 15;98:29-36. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.12.012. Epub 2012 Jan 11.
A descriptive-correlational study of biosolids recycling was conducted in the south-eastern United States to assess current knowledge, attitudes and risk perceptions of participants in two communities that land apply biosolids as part of their waste management programs. One community, Amelia County VA, has been outspoken against biosolids recycling in the past, whereas the second community, Knoxville, TN region, has voiced few concerns about biosolids recycling. Additionally, gender differences within the entire study population were assessed. A 45-question telephone survey, utilizing a 4-point Likert scale, was developed and administered to 311 randomly selected adults in the two regions. Commonalities identified during the study revealed key risk perceptions by the public regarding biosolids regulations, treatment, and application. Given current perceptions and knowledge, respondents felt that the benefits derived from biosolids recycling do not offset the perceived health and safety risks. However, as distance between application and personal property increased, a decrease in opposition of biosolids reuse became evident for all respondents. Survey participants were dissatisfied with the level of stakeholder involvement in research and decision-making processes concerning biosolids. The outspoken Amelia County residents perceived greater health risks due to inadequate treatment of biosolids and odorous emissions during the application process than the less engaged Knox Metro respondents. Significant gender differences were observed with sampled females perceiving greater risks to health and safety from biosolids recycling than males. There was also indication that decisions and risks were not sufficiently communicated to the public, leading to respondents being inadequately informed about biosolids land application in both communities. Community-specific outreach programs must address these public risk perceptions and the differences in perception caused by gender and issue awareness to assist solid waste managers in developing and implementing successful biosolids land application systems that are acceptable to the public.
在美国东南部进行了一项关于生物固体回收的描述性相关性研究，以评估参与两个将生物固体作为其废物管理计划一部分进行土地应用的社区的当前知识、态度和风险认知。一个社区，弗吉尼亚州的阿米莉亚县，过去一直强烈反对生物固体回收，而第二个社区，田纳西州的诺克斯维尔地区，对生物固体回收几乎没有表示担忧。此外，还评估了整个研究人群中的性别差异。开发并向两个地区的 311 名随机选择的成年人进行了一项 45 个问题的电话调查，使用 4 点李克特量表。研究中发现的共同点揭示了公众对生物固体法规、处理和应用的关键风险认知。鉴于当前的看法和知识，受访者认为从生物固体回收中获得的好处不足以抵消感知到的健康和安全风险。然而，随着应用与个人财产之间的距离增加，所有受访者对生物固体再利用的反对意见明显减少。调查参与者对利益相关者在生物固体研究和决策过程中的参与程度感到不满。直言不讳的阿米莉亚县居民认为，由于生物固体处理不当和应用过程中的恶臭排放，他们面临更大的健康风险，而参与度较低的诺克斯都会区受访者则认为风险较小。在抽样的女性中观察到显著的性别差异，她们认为从生物固体回收中获得的健康和安全风险大于男性。还表明，决策和风险没有充分传达给公众，导致两个社区的受访者对生物固体土地应用了解不足。针对这些公众风险认知以及由性别和问题意识引起的差异，必须制定社区特定的外展计划，以帮助固体废物管理人员制定和实施公众可接受的成功生物固体土地应用系统。
