Perceptions of Information and Environmental Risks – Part Two. Results of the 2021 Santé publique France Barometer

Part 2 of the study on the French population’s level of awareness and perception of health risks related to environmental issues focused on collective exposure to chemical, biological, or physical risks with local characteristics or specificities, such as exposure to radon, outdoor air pollution, invasive plants, or contaminated soil. • Nine out of ten people identify only outdoor air pollution (92.2%), heavy metals (89.8%), contaminated soil (89.4%), pesticides (89.1%), and extreme weather events (82.4%) as posing a “high” to “somewhat high” risk. Fewer people identified a “high” to “moderately high” risk for noise (71.3%), invasive plants (66.2%), and radon (59.4%). • Depending on the environmental topics studied, the perception of being well-informed could be associated with age, perceived financial situation, occupation and social class, and area of residence. Older individuals and those who felt most financially secure were more likely to report being well-informed about health effects. • The workplace appears to be an effective venue for information and/or prevention regarding various environmental issues. The dissemination or promotion of information regarding the health risks and impacts of various environmental exposures within the workplace could be encouraged, in addition to other existing measures. • It appears necessary to move beyond the “informative” approach to environmental issues by providing guidance on the nature of risks and on best practices that protect health. The development of regulatory tools, such as those proposed under the implementation of the Alur law, is an example of awareness-raising that should be optimized to enable the public to identify public health issues related to environmental exposures and to facilitate their adaptation.

Author(s): Mathieu Arnaud, Soullier Noémie

Publishing year: 2023

Pages: 34 p.

Collection: Studies and Surveys

In relation to

Our latest news

news

2026 “Sexual Behavior” Survey (ERAS) for men who have sex with men

news

Hervé Maisonneuve has been appointed scientific integrity officer for a...

Visuel illustratif

news

Public Health France 2026 Barometer: Launch of the Survey