ID: 2194
Presenting Author: Glenn Ferguson
Session: 759 - Railroading the Assessment of Health and Social Valued Components in Impact Assessment
Status: pending
Human health risk assessments are vital for public health decisions but face threats from mis/disinformation. Multidisciplinary strategies are vital to safeguard assessment integrity & public trust.
Human health risk assessments (HHRAs) are critical components of environmental, and health impact assessments, guiding decisions that affect public health and safety. However, the integrity of these assessments can be significantly compromised by the spread of misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation—false or misleading information shared without intent to deceive—and disinformation—deliberately deceptive content—can distort public understanding of scientific evidence, erode trust in regulatory institutions, and influence the outcomes of impact assessments. These distortions often arise through social media, community networks, or interest groups, amplifying fears and misconceptions about potential health risks. As a result, scientifically sound assessments may be challenged or disregarded, leading to delays, increased costs, or suboptimal policy decisions. Vulnerable communities may be especially susceptible, lacking access to accurate information or the capacity to critically evaluate complex health data. Moreover, misinformation can polarize stakeholder engagement, undermining consensus-building and collaborative decision-making. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to embed proactive communication strategies within the HHRA process, including transparent risk communication, early stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with communities. This abstract highlights the urgent need to address misinformation and disinformation as systemic threats to evidence-based health risk assessment in the context of impact assessments.
Glenn Ferguson is a senior environmental health scientist with more than 30 years of experience in toxicology, human health and ecological risk assessment, health impact assessment and risk communicat