Cryptosporidium Risk Communication for Drinking Water Utilities. M. J. Small, B. Fischhoff, E. A. Casman, and C. R. Palmgren, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Several recent outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis in the United States, and pending EPA requirements for information collection and reporting by water utilities, highlight the need for effective communication of information on Cryptosporidium in drinking water supplies and the associated health risks. This paper presents initial results of a project designed to identify (a) the lay public’s understanding of factors that influence the risk of exposure and disease from Cryptosporidium; and (b) the content and form of risk communications most likely to improve this understanding. The project utilizes the method of "mental models," depicting an individual’s beliefs regarding a risk process and the options for addressing the risk. The method compares an "expert" model, developed to summarize current knowledge of the scientific, engineering, institutional and legal factors affecting Cryptosporidium exposure, risk and risk mitigation, with mental models of lay people (elicited through open-ended interviews) for accuracy and completeness. Finally, the effectiveness of alternative risk communication instruments (such as pamphlets and Web pages) is evaluated by testing the resulting improvement in the mental models of study subjects. Early results presented in this paper include a review of available and proposed risk communication materials for Cryptosporidium and comparison of initial expert and lay mental models.
Work supported by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation.
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