New Study Highlights Public’s Perception of PFAS Risks

A new study has explored how exposure to conflicting information about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals,” affects public risk perception, behavior, and policy support.  

You can read the full report here: Personal relevance moderates the effect of conflicting information on risk perception and behavioral outcomes – Dong – Risk Analysis – Wiley Online Library

An online experiment was conducted with 1,232 U.S. adults, examining how consistency of information and personal relevance of PFAS exposure influenced attitudes and actions toward risk mitigation and regulation. 

KEY FINDINGS:

• Exposure to conflicting information about PFAS reduces risk perception, thereby diminishing support for protective behaviors and policies—but only when individuals perceive the risk as less personally relevant.

• Consistent information increases the public’s perception of risk, especially when the risk feels personally relevant, leading to more engagement in mitigation behaviors and greater support for policymaking.

WHY IT MATTERS:

PFAS are a group of roughly 15,000 synthetic chemicals found in common products like nonstick cookware, food packaging, carpeting, and athletic wear. These chemicals do not break down naturally and therefore accumulate in the environment and the human body—research has shown up to 95% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. Although PFAS research is in its infancy, exposure has been linked to cancer and developmental issues.

Risk communication around PFAS is complicated by the evolving nature of scientific research and conflicting expert opinions, which can erode public confidence and clarity.