Passive smoking, sun exposure and a lack of water top the list of environmental risk factors that most worry West Australians, according to a community survey which also shows women are much more concerned than men. A Health Department survey of more than 1700 people over the age of 18 has also rated nuclear waste, ozone depletion and air pollution from cars high on the list of 23 potential health hazards.
Asked about environmental factors most likely to harm their family rather than just them, people cited the top hazards as misuse of chemicals and poisons in the home, food additives and germs in food.
People without a tertiary education, those over 55 and those in poor health were most likely to fear environmental hazards.
Those under 30 were less concerned than older people by high voltage power lines, uranium mining, genetically modified foods and mobile phone towers.
The department said almost two-thirds of people surveyed rated the top three hazards of passive smoking, the sun and water scarcity as a “high” risk to health. Asked about risks facing them and their families, the issue of main overall concern was food additives.
The least concerning risks were mobile phone towers and re-use of treated wastewater as drinking water or on market gardens.
CATHY O’LEARY
TheWest.com.au
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