Work

Cleaning Products, Environmental Awareness and Risk Perception in Mérida, Mexico

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Cleaning products are associated with many health and environmental problems. Contamination of water resources by cleaning products is more likely to occur with septic tanks as sewage treatment systems especially in karstic terrains. We explored women's ideas about water sources and the risk cleaning products pose to health and sewage in Mérida, a city in the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico. Women were unaware of the city's water management system. We found a positive and statistically significant association between risk perception and environmental awareness, education level and employment status. We suggest developing education and risk communication strategies to inform residents about the hydro-geological features in the Yucatán, the vulnerability of its karstic aquifer and the health and environmental risks associated with cleaning agents.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074352

Authors: Ruth Magnolia Martínez-Peña, Almira L. Hoogesteijn, Stephen J. Rothenberg, María Dolores Cervera-Montejano, Julia G. Pacheco-Ávila

Institutions: Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Autonomous University of Yucatán

Language: English

Topic: Risk Perception and Management

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,382