Risk Perceptions of Adults in the Town of Unicoi, Tennessee, Regarding the Possible Building of a Uranium Enrichment Plant.

<p>A prolonged siting controversy for a uranium enrichment facility has occurred in the Town of Unicoi, Tennessee. One hundred-seventy residents of Unicoi were interviewed using a questionnaire regarding the building of a proposed uranium enrichment facility for Unicoi. The questionnaire sought to determine relationships between residents’ risk perceptions and 18 variables. When the Fisher’s exact procedure was applied at α< 0.05, the results indicated several associations. Odds ratio measured the strength of association. Results are reported as crude measures of association. Risk perceptions were influenced by the choice of possible locations for the facility [p=0.0003; OR=32.6]. Residents' risk perceptions were associated with a history of working with nuclear materials [p=0.0476; OR=3.2]. Finally, risk perceptions were associated with residents' beliefs that the nuclear facility would affect their health [p=0.0001; OR=18.8]. These results are discussed in light of risk perception and communication theories.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MSEH (Master of Science in Environmental Health)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Health

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Sellards, Shannon Kathleen

• Tennessee
• survey research
• risk communication
• risk perception
• siting contro
• Environmental Health and Protection
• Environmental Sciences
• Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/959

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2116