Community Perceptions of Arsenic Contaminated Drinking Water and Preferences for Risk Communication in California’s San Joaquin Valley

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010813
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02T09:51:22Z
• Authors: Hollynd Boyden; Mayela Gillan; Javier Molina; Ashok Gadgil; Winston Tseng
• Keywords: San Joaquin; Risk Communication

Due to chronic exposure elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water, thousands Californians have increased risk for internal cancers and other adverse health effects. The mortality cancer is 1 400 people exposed above 10 μg/L their water. purpose this community assessment was understand the perceptions awareness residents public water representatives rural, unincorporated farming communities color San Joaquin Valley, California. In our research, we asked 27 informants about (1) available sources, (2) knowledge impacts arsenic, (3) preferences communication education regarding arsenic-contaminated Through qualitative coding analysis, found that most indicated there limited effects with levels. Preferences included using in-language, culturally relevant, literate promotion strategies teaching these topics through local K-8 schools’ science curriculum a language brokerage approach transfer student family members. Key recommendations include implementing increase community-wide safe