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Setting the Scene for a Healthier Indoor Living Environment: Citizens’ Knowledge, Awareness, and Habits Related to Residential Radon Exposure in Romania

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  • Dacinia Crina Petrescu

    (Faculty of Business, Babe¸s-Bolyai University, Horea St. no 7, 400174 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Ruxandra Mălina Petrescu-Mag

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babe¸s-Bolyai University; Fantanele St. no 30, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

The present research is based on the premise that people perceive radiation risks in different ways, depending on their cultural background, information exposure, economic level, and educational status, which are specific to each country. The main objective was to assess and report, for the first time, the Romanians’ attitude (perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors) related to residential radon, in order to contribute to the creation of a healthier living environment. A convenience sample of 229 people from different parts of Romania, including radon prone areas, was used. Results profiled a population vulnerable to radon threats from the perspective of their awareness and perceptions. Thus, study results showed that most participants did not perceive the risk generated by radon exposure as significant to their health; only 13.1% of interviewed people considered the danger to their health as “high” or “very high”. Additionally, it was found that awareness of radon itself was low: 62.4% of the sample did not know what radon was. From a practical perspective, the study shows that in Romania, increasing awareness, through the provision of valid information, should be a major objective of strategies that aim to reduce radon exposure. The present study takes a bottom-up perspective by assessing Romanian citizens’ attitudes toward radon. Therefore, it compensates for a gap in the behavioral studies literature by providing practical support for radon risk mitigation and creating the premises for a healthier living environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Mălina Petrescu-Mag, 2017. "Setting the Scene for a Healthier Indoor Living Environment: Citizens’ Knowledge, Awareness, and Habits Related to Residential Radon Exposure in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2081-:d:118653
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dacinia Crina Petrescu & Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag, 2015. "Organic Food Perception: Fad, or Healthy and Environmentally Friendly? A Case on Romanian Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Weinstein, N.D. & Klotz, M.L. & Sandman, P.M., 1988. "Optimistic biases in public perceptions of the risk from radon," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 78(7), pages 796-800.
    3. Zhang, Wei & Chow, Yimmy & Meara, Jill & Green, Martyn, 2011. "Evaluation and equity audit of the domestic radon programme in England," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(1), pages 81-88, September.
    4. Lim, Seul-Ye & Kim, Hyo-Jin & Yoo, Seung-Hoon, 2017. "Public's willingness to pay a premium for bioethanol in Korea: A contingent valuation study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 20-27.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruxandra Malina Petrescu-Mag & Ioan Banatean-Dunea & Stefan Cristian Vesa & Sofia Copacinschi & Dacinia Crina Petrescu, 2019. "What Do Romanian Farmers Think about the Effects of Pesticides? Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Bio-Pesticides," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Kassim Mwitondi & Ibrahim Al Sadig & Rifaat Hassona & Charles Taylor & Adil Yousef, 2018. "Statistical Estimate of Radon Concentration from Passive and Active Detectors in Doha," Data, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Török, Zoltán & Petrescu-Mag, Ruxandra-Mălina & Mereuță, Alexandru & Maloș, Cristian Valeriu & Arghiuș, Viorel-Ilie & Ozunu, Alexandru, 2020. "Analysis of territorial compatibility for Seveso-type sites using different risk assessment methods and GIS technique," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Liliana Cori & Olivia Curzio & Gabriele Donzelli & Elisa Bustaffa & Fabrizio Bianchi, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Radon Risk Perception, Awareness, and Knowledge: Risk Communication Options," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-27, August.

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