142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recreation and Risk: Are There Gender, Income, and Educational Differences in Knowledge About Contamination Between Users of the Anacostia River?

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Rianna Murray, BSc, MPH , Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH), University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD
Sacoby Wilson, PhD, MS , Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH), University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD
Victoria Chanse, PhD , Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD
Laura Dalemarre, MPH , Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH), University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD
Janet Phoenix, MD, MPH , Department of Health Policy, George Washington School Public Health & Health Services, Washington, DC
Amir Sapkota, PhD , Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
BACKGROUND: The Anacostia River watershed is designated as one of the three highest priority regions of concern within Chesapeake Bay due to extensive degradation. Despite this contamination, many people regularly use the Anacostia for recreation. This study examines the risk perception of people who engage in limited contact recreation on the Anacostia River.

METHODS: 197 recreational users of the Anacostia River were surveyed and perception of risks they faced while recreating was evaluated. Respondents also indicated how informed they were of these risks, and the source of their information. Statistical analyses were performed to determine whether differences existed between levels of concern expressed for each type of pollution by users and non-users, and by sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS: Recreational users and non-users of the Anacostia River are extremely concerned about the same pollution sources – sewage, trash, chemicals and pesticides in the river. The only pollution source for which the difference between the level of concern expressed by users and non-users of the river is significant (p=0.04) was the presence of trash. 57.04% of respondents are not well informed of the potential risks associated with recreation, and most indicated that newspapers were their primary source for information on risks.

CONCLUSIONS: This study determined that many recreational users believe they are not well informed of the risks faced while recreating. Users are also extremely concerned about problems that plague the Anacostia River and could affect their health. This work is important in designing risk communication strategies specifically directed to recreational users.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the demographic profile of the recreational population of the Anacostia River. Describe the risk perception of those who engage in limited contact recreation on the Anacostia River.

Keyword(s): Environmental Health, Water & Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the surveys and statistical analyses reported in the research and wrote the abstract as well as the scientific paper which resulted from this work. My primary focus is environmental health issues, specifically the adverse effects to human health associated with contact with water.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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