Institute for Environmental Decisions, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstrasse 22, Zuerich, Switzerland.
Risk Anal. 2019 Dec;39(12):2668-2682. doi: 10.1111/risa.13375. Epub 2019 Jul 9.
This mixed-methods study investigated consumers' knowledge of chemicals in terms of basic principles of toxicology and then related this knowledge, in addition to other factors, to their fear of chemical substances (i.e., chemophobia). Both qualitative interviews and a large-scale online survey were conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. A Mokken scale was developed to measure laypeople's toxicological knowledge. The results indicate that most laypeople are unaware of the similarities between natural and synthetic chemicals in terms of certain toxicological principles. Furthermore, their associations with the term "chemical substances" and the self-reported affect prompted by these associations are mostly negative. The results also suggest that knowledge of basic principles of toxicology, self-reported affect evoked by the term "chemical substances," risk-benefit perceptions concerning synthetic chemicals, and trust in regulation processes are all negatively associated with chemophobia, while general health concerns are positively related to chemophobia. Thus, to enhance informed consumer decisionmaking, it might be necessary to tackle the stigmatization of the term "chemical substances" as well as address and clarify prevalent misconceptions.
本混合方法研究调查了消费者在毒理学基本原理方面对化学物质的了解程度，并将这种知识（以及其他因素）与他们对化学物质的恐惧（即化学恐惧症）联系起来。该研究在瑞士德语区进行了定性访谈和大规模在线调查。开发了一种莫肯量表来衡量非专业人士的毒理学知识。结果表明，大多数非专业人士没有意识到某些毒理学原理下天然和合成化学物质之间的相似性。此外，他们对“化学物质”一词的联想以及这些联想所引发的自我报告的情感大多是负面的。结果还表明，毒理学基本原理知识、术语“化学物质”引起的自我报告的情感、对合成化学品的风险-收益认知以及对监管过程的信任，都与化学恐惧症呈负相关，而一般健康问题则与化学恐惧症呈正相关。因此，为了增强知情消费者的决策能力，可能有必要解决“化学物质”一词的污名化问题，并解决和澄清普遍存在的误解。
