Knowledge and perceptions of the health effects of environmental hazards in the general population in Italy

ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study is to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward environmental risks as possible determinants of diseases in the general population in Italy.MethodsParents of 900 children and adolescents received an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.ResultsCorrect knowledge ranged from 98.4% of those who are aware that tobacco smoking is a risk factor for respiratory disease to 4.0% of those who know that there is no evidence of an increase of risk of childhood leukaemia in those living near mobile phones base stations. Those who are knowledgeable on the effect of an environmental risk factor are significantly more likely to know also about other risk factors.ConclusionThe findings of this survey provide valuable information to researchers and policy makers about public awareness of environmental risks that are to take into account in the implementation of risk communication and protective actions.