The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50270

Lynn M. Waishwell, PhD CHES, CRESP, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Public Health, 335 George St. Suite 2200, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, 732 235-9744, lwaishwe@eohsi.rutgers.edu and Joanna Burger, PhD, CRESP, Rutgers University, Nelson Biology Labs, 350 Biological Services, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

Determining the best approach to communicating risk from eating contaminated fish is a complicated process. Inconsistencies in risk assessment and management approaches among responsible agencies, lack of data to help shape targeted communications, and incomplete understanding of local communities' perceptions and best methods to communicate are fundamental causes of this complexity. In the Savannah River region adjacent to the Dept. of Energy Savannah River Site, the Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation II (CRESP II) conducted a sequence of studies, with local stakeholder input, that helped clarify and resolve important concerns in developing a strategy for an effective risk communication that would be endorsed by the appropriate federal and state agencies and local stakeholder groups. Fisher people along Savannah River were interviewed for consumption patterns and fish preparation preference. A risk assessment was conducted with fish collected at the same time. The following year CRESP shared the fish consumption advisory strategy, a Fish Fact Sheet, with people fishing along the Savannah River, and obtained feedback on its effectiveness. Because this data and process was credible and trusted by parties involved, the research helped create a specific risk communication that became part of a larger risk management response action. The presentation will describe how CRESP science helped create a fish consumption advisory strategy acceptable to diverse stakeholders at SRS, including communities with environmental justice concerns.

Learning Objectives: By conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to

1. Describe specific methods for including community stakeholders in a research process. 2. List benefits of community/researcher partnerships in developing a risk communication strategy.
• Describe a risk-driven participatory process for identifying target groups of a fish consumption advisory.

Keywords: Communication, Environmental Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation II
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.