Risk Communication / Town Hall Meetings

Magnetic Fields from Electric Power Transmission Lines

Challenge:

A small rural town in a New England State welcomed a new, large manufacturing plant as a source of new jobs. Inadequate power supply, however, was to be rectified by running the electric power transmission lines through the center of town: the most direct and least expensive path. The town council approved the right-of-way, but concerned citizens of the town feared the health consequences of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from the power lines.

Solution:

A series of town meetings were held to allow citizens to voice their concerns. Prior to the meetings, we presented the scientific and medical facts to the local medical community and brought some of our physicians to the town meetings to answer questions and reassure the citizens.

Reflection:

Despite remnant concerns on the part of some of the populace, they were reassured about lack of likely health hazards and the project went forward. As with many such communication programs with which we have been involved, it was clear that compassionate listening, trustworthiness and an awareness of supportable scientific facts combined to align the interests and dispel the fears of all parties.

Assisted Living Facilities

Challenge:

Single-story assisted living facilities were flooded during hurricane season. Water intrusion up to sixteen inches occurred in hallways, common areas and apartments, resulting in excessive mold growth behind vinyl wall coverings, in carpets, on the walls and inside the wall cavities. Sampling revealed high mold counts in the air. Remediation was needed, but required elderly residents be moved from their apartments. Facility managers were fearful of adverse health effects to vulnerable residents, as well as to their employees.

Solution:

We held resident meetings, at which the problem, the proposed move, remediation, the actual health risks and impact on the residents were presented. Our physicians and building scientists led these meetings, during which residents were encouraged to raise their concerns. Planned health protections for the residents during the remediation were explained. In every facility where we were involved, we presented the medical information and addressed all, residents' questions confirming that they had been reassured. Their focus shifted from health issues to detailed logistics of the move: telephone service, costs they were expected to incur, length of disruption. Separate meetings were held with the facilities' employees, at which similar information was presented with similar results. Our briefing prepared facilities' personnel to respond to further inquiries from the residents.

Reflection:

Open, frank discussions between the residents and a physician resolved management, occupant and employee health concerns, because those involved were reassured that appropriate and effective protections would be in place. As a result, cooperation among all involved parties was excellent during the required remediation.

Dioxin in Lake

Challenge:

A large, popular recreational lake near a paper plant in Alabama suddenly sprouted signs posted by the Alabama State Department of the Environment warning that the lake was contaminated and any fish caught there were toxic to humans. The lake was closed to all recreational activity. Fisherman were frightened, homeowners were worried about the value of their property and citizens who used the lake for recreation didn't know whether it was safe to boat, swim or water-ski. Resort owners were calling state agencies, angry about cancellations.

Solution:

Regular testing of the fish in the lake had revealed dioxin present at 3 ppt (parts per trillion); one fish exceeded a federal guideline (at 8 ppt). We performed a review of the available toxicological literature, including that considered by the federal government's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). None of the literature revealed any risk to human health from dioxin at such levels. The Alabama EPA used a thousand fold measure of safety in its decision to post warning signs, far below any known toxicologically harmful levels. We communicated our findings to various stakeholders and to the local medical society, whose members then became a part of the communication solution. The signs were removed.

Reflection:

Understanding stakeholders' concerns, finding local allies, like the physicians we collaborated with in this case, and equipping them with relevant medical and scientific information was an effective approach in assuaging this distressed community.

Residential Subdivision Panic

Challenge:

Mold amplification was found across 300 homes in a subdivision in a western state. This occurred in a market where the escalating value of homes was creating tremendous gains in homeowner equity – it ultimately became apparent that this was a significant driver in this incident. A major regional homebuilder's business continuity was threatened by potential class action lawsuit. People who lived in the area referred to it as the "mold subdivision" and every resident family came forward with symptoms and fears.

Solution:

The builder took the absolute right approach at the right time in the incident life cycle but initially involved the wrong team. Later, when we began our involvement, it became apparent through our interviews with the homeowners that grass roots organizers were attempting to create an environment to support a class action suit. We developed and implemented a risk communications strategy. Pre-remediation meetings were held in each home with the home's residents by our physician and our building scientist to outline the protocols, set expectations, allay fears and arrest health misperceptions. We also made corrective recommendations for the already-in-place mold remediation. We instituted a viable remediation program which allowed homeowners to remain in their residences, and which resulted in a shortened remediation turnaround time and significant cost savings to the builder.

Reflection:

Proper and timely risk communication with concerned parties, using health-based precautions, was implemented. The response strategy that was employed prevented litigation and restored the community's confidence in the developer.

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