Perception on the Risk of the Sonora River Pollution

Juan Ignacio Aragonés, César Tapia-Fonllem, Lucía Poggio and Blanca Fraijo-Sing
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Juan Ignacio Aragonés: Departamento de Psicología Social, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
César Tapia-Fonllem: Departamento de Psicología y Ciencias de la Comunicación, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
Lucía Poggio: Departamento de Psicología Social, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Madrid, Spain
Blanca Fraijo-Sing: Departamento de Psicología y Ciencias de la Comunicación, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: This study applies the “psychometric paradigm” of risk perception to the heavy mineral spill in the Sonora River (Mexico). A total of 241 inhabitants of the polluted area with a mean age of 46.3 years participated in the study, completing an interview questionnaire at the onset of the disaster. The results allow us to establish a profile of the 18 characteristics comprising the model and a multiple regression analysis shows that some characteristics of the dimensions of dread risk and unknown risk explain a percentage of the magnitude of the perceived risk. In addition, the behaviors recommended by the authorities were classified by the participants according to their estimated usefulness. Significant differences were observed. Avoiding contact with the water was considered the most effective, followed by recommendations on the use of the water, with actions related to the environment and how to avoid pollution being considered the least effective. In sum, the strategy deployed allows us to observe how the victims perceive the disaster and organize the behaviors proposed by the authorities.

Keywords: risk perception; psychometric paradigm; environmental risk behaviors emergency; aquifer contamination; illness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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