The nature of technological hazard

Technological hazards are evaluated in terms of quantitatively expressed physical, biological, and social descriptors. For each hazard a profile is constructed that considerably extends the conventional definition of risk. The profile, which is termed hazardousness, was understood in pilot experimen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inScience (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 220; no. 4595; p. 378
Main Authors Hohenemser, C, Kates, R W, Slovic, P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 22.04.1983
Subjects
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Health
Humans
Risk
Technology
Triage
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Summary:Technological hazards are evaluated in terms of quantitatively expressed physical, biological, and social descriptors. For each hazard a profile is constructed that considerably extends the conventional definition of risk. The profile, which is termed hazardousness, was understood in pilot experiments on perception and appeared to capture a large fraction of lay people's concern with hazard. It also suggests an orderly method for establishing priorities for the management of hazards.
ISSN:0036-8075
DOI:10.1126/science.6836279