PFAS Risk Communications | AAAS EPI Center
Key Takeaways Risk communications is fundamental to successfully engaging the public to respond to potential issues and public concern. When done well, it can strengthen your reputation as a trusted source and reduce concerns when communicating about risks. • Successful risk communications can help reduce fear and prepare people to participate in solutions. • Assess knowledge and sentiment of the public before developing a communication plan. • Make an effort to acknowledge and understand stakeholder concerns, be careful to not appear to dismiss concerns. • Conveying uncertainties and maintaining transparency as evidence emerges are critical to building and maintaining trust and successfully engaging the public. • Reach out to appropriate organizations (state environmental agencies, local universities, environmental interest groups) to determine the testing conducted to date and establish PFAS levels of concern. • Always assess level of risk in order to plan or respond accordingly. • Be transparent and upfront. • A communications plan will help in both proactive and reactive situations. • Understand stakeholders based on levels of interest and influence, and opportunities to engage and increase interest. • Communications are not one-size-fits-all. Tailor messages and tools to reach different audiences. • Assess whether you are engaging all affected communities and employ a variety of tactics and tools to do so. • Tools and tactics for communication with particular groups should align with well-defined goals and objectives, which should be measured and monitored. References 1. ATSDR. PFAS in the US population. Published June 24, 2020. Accessed October 6, 2020. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health- effects/us-population.html 2. US EPA. Risk Communication In Action: The Tools of Message Mapping. Published 2007. Accessed August 13, 2020. https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=NRMRL&dirEntryId=156207 3. ITRC. Risk Communication – PFAS — Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. Published 2020. Accessed August 13, 2020. https://pfas- 1.itrcweb.org/14-risk-communication/ 4. Sandman PM. Responding to Community Outrage: Strategies for Effective Risk Communication . AIHA; 2013. 5. International Association for Public Participation. IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation. Published 2018. Accessed August 13, 2020. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.iap2.org/resource/resmgr/pillars/Spectrum_8.5x11_Print.pdf 6. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. PFAS Risk Communication Hub. Accessed August 13, 2020. https://www.astho.org/PFAS/
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