Dalhousie University, Population Cancer Research Program, Department of Pediatrics, 1494 Carlton Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada.
Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Geological Services Division, 1701 Hollis Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T9, Canada.
Sci Total Environ. 2015 Feb 1;505:1259-73. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.108. Epub 2014 Jan 18.
Arsenic is a class I human carcinogen that has been identified as the second most important global health concern in groundwater supplies after contamination by pathogenic organisms. Hydrogeological assessments have shown naturally occurring arsenic to be widespread in groundwater across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Knowledge of arsenic risk exposure among private well users in these arsenic endemic areas has not yet been fully explored but research on water quality perceptions indicates a consistent misalignment between public and scientific assessments of environmental risk. This paper evaluates knowledge of arsenic risk exposure among a demographic cross-section of well users residing in 5 areas of Nova Scotia assessed to be at variable risk (high-low) of arsenic occurrence in groundwater based on water sample analysis. An integrated knowledge-to-action (KTA) methodological approach is utilized to comprehensively assess the personal, social and local factors shaping perception of well water contaminant risks and the translation of knowledge into routine water testing behaviors. Analysis of well user survey data (n=420) reveals a high level of confidence in well water quality that is unrelated to the relative risk of arsenic exposure or homeowner adherence to government testing recommendations. Further analysis from the survey and in-depth well user interviews (n=32) finds that well users' assessments of risk are influenced by personal experience, local knowledge, social networks and convenience of infrastructure rather than by formal information channels, which are largely failing to reach their target audiences. Insights from interviews with stakeholders representing government health and environment agencies (n=15) are used to reflect on the institutional barriers that mediate the translation of scientific knowledge into public awareness and stewardship behaviors. The utilization of local knowledge brokers, community-based networks and regulatory incentives to improve risk knowledge and support routine testing among private well users is discussed.
砷是一种 I 类人类致癌物，在受致病生物污染之后，被认为是地下水供应中全球第二大重点健康问题。水文地质评估显示，天然砷在地壳东北部和加拿大东部的地下水中广泛存在。这些地方性砷污染地区的私人水井用户对砷风险暴露的了解尚未得到充分探索，但有关水质认知的研究表明，公众和科学界对环境风险的评估存在一致的偏差。本文评估了居住在新斯科舍省 5 个地区的水井用户的砷风险暴露知识，这些地区根据水样分析评估为地下水砷发生的风险（高-低）不同。利用综合的知识转化为行动（KTA）方法，全面评估了影响个人、社会和地方对井水污染物风险感知的因素，以及将知识转化为常规水质检测行为的因素。对水井用户调查数据（n=420）的分析显示，水井用户对井水质量的信心水平很高，这与砷暴露的相对风险或房主遵守政府检测建议无关。从调查和深入的水井用户访谈（n=32）中进一步分析发现，水井用户对风险的评估受到个人经验、地方知识、社交网络和基础设施便利性的影响，而不是受正式信息渠道的影响，这些信息渠道在很大程度上未能覆盖到目标受众。代表政府卫生和环境机构的利益相关者访谈（n=15）的见解，用于反思在将科学知识转化为公众意识和管理行为方面存在的制度障碍。讨论了利用地方知识经纪人、基于社区的网络和监管激励措施来提高风险知识水平，并支持私人水井用户进行常规检测。
