[UV risk perception by the general public: results of a representative questionnaire in Germany]. / UV-Risikowahrnehmung in der Bevölkerung: Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Umfrage in Deutschland.

AIM OF THE STUDY: For public health promotion purposes it is important to know how the general public perceives the risk factor "UV exposure" and how UV risk perception is connected to health-related attitudes and beliefs. The aim of the study was to collect representative data about UV risk perception in Germany. METHODS: A representative telephone survey using the ADM design was carried out among 1 501 German residents between May and July 2007. Variables related to UV risk knowledge, relevance of risk topics in every-day thinking and risk estimates were investigated. Data regarding a subjective benefit evaluation of UV exposition was also collected. RESULTS: The results suggest no essential gaps in the general knowledge about UV risks, except for the underestimation of UV-related cataracts. The respondents thought it extremely likely that UV exposure would cause health damage such as skin cancer, photoaging or sun burns. People were asked to report how often they had thought about a number of health risks including UV risks in the last two weeks. It was established that UV risks are present but not dominant in people's every-day thinking. Along with it, the risk evaluation proves to be rather moderate. The mean value for respondents' perceived personal risk is M=5.1, in the midsection of the given 10-point scale. The results show that perceived personal risk is not influenced by the serious UV health risks such as cancer or cataracts. The results also indicate that UV benefit and UV risk perception are not strongly related to one another. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, participants' perception and assessment of the various health risks of UV exposure seem to be realistic, but the UV risk assessment it is not related to the perception of personal risk. One must therefore assume that UV health risk information and education campaigns do not necessarily lead to a change in the perception of personal UV risk. Rather than addressing primarily risk knowledge, UV risk communication should focus more on motivational aspects and consider the role of UV benefit perception.

Consecutive geoelectric measurements reveal the downward movement of an oxidation zone.

An investigation program for monitoring pyrite oxidation on a conveyer bridge dump used geoelectric measurement for monitoring the progress of pyrite oxidation within the dump. The results of the geoelectric measurement show that low soil-pH and high pore water conductivity correlate with low soil resistivity values. The soil resistivity values are dominated by high pore water conductivity. The influence of changes in water saturation on resistivity was comparably low. An increase in pyrite oxidation was observed in areas with high porosity due to low dump density. Consecutive geoelectric measurements revealed locally differentiated downward movement of an oxidation zone caused by dump heterogeneity.