TY - JOUR

T1 - Consumers' perceptions of biocidal products in households

AU - Wieck, Stefanie

AU - Olsson, Oliver

AU - Kümmerer, Klaus

PY - 2018/3

Y1 - 2018/3

N2 - Biocidal products are commonly used in households and can pose a risk to human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate consumers’ use and understanding of biocidal products in order to identify starting points for minimising their exposure to these products and reducing possible emissions to the environment. In a case study, standardised questionnaires were used to interview consumers in 133 households in three neighbourhoods in Northern Germany, representing the urban–rural typologies in Europe: predominantly urban, intermediate and predominantly rural regions. The questions focussed on the comprehension of the term ‘biocide’, pest control habits, sources of information, risk perception of different product groups and possible emission reduction measures.Only 21% of the respondents understood the term ‘biocide’ correctly, whereas 29% thought of ‘something that had to do with organic pest control’, and 28% were not able to think of a possible meaning. The risk perception of biocidal products compared to plant protection products varied depending on the living conditions. In the urban neighbourhood, biocidal products were perceived as more dangerous than in the rural area. The main pests to be fought were ants, mould and fruit fly. The results of the study indicate that there is a considerable difference between the types of biocidal products that interviewees claimed to own and those that they actually did have in their households. Most notably, respondents did not realise that they owned surface disinfectants. This result indicates that consumers often seem not to be aware of using specific biocidal products. Also, this shows the limitations of collecting data on products owned with only one method, as the results from products inventories of the households deviate from the data collected in interviews.Our results show that the term ‘biocide’ is not fully understood by many people. To communicate possible risks of biocidal products, other terms would have to be used. Online information regarding general facts on necessary general hygiene measures and biocidal products against bacteria and insects are likely to be of highest relevance for consumers. However, risk communication for biocidal products in general is difficult because consumers are often not aware of using biocidal products. For this reason, information and awareness raising campaigns should be accompanied by further measures such as sales restrictions for specific user-groups or prohibitions of certain uses for a sustainable use of biocidal products.

AB - Biocidal products are commonly used in households and can pose a risk to human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate consumers’ use and understanding of biocidal products in order to identify starting points for minimising their exposure to these products and reducing possible emissions to the environment. In a case study, standardised questionnaires were used to interview consumers in 133 households in three neighbourhoods in Northern Germany, representing the urban–rural typologies in Europe: predominantly urban, intermediate and predominantly rural regions. The questions focussed on the comprehension of the term ‘biocide’, pest control habits, sources of information, risk perception of different product groups and possible emission reduction measures.Only 21% of the respondents understood the term ‘biocide’ correctly, whereas 29% thought of ‘something that had to do with organic pest control’, and 28% were not able to think of a possible meaning. The risk perception of biocidal products compared to plant protection products varied depending on the living conditions. In the urban neighbourhood, biocidal products were perceived as more dangerous than in the rural area. The main pests to be fought were ants, mould and fruit fly. The results of the study indicate that there is a considerable difference between the types of biocidal products that interviewees claimed to own and those that they actually did have in their households. Most notably, respondents did not realise that they owned surface disinfectants. This result indicates that consumers often seem not to be aware of using specific biocidal products. Also, this shows the limitations of collecting data on products owned with only one method, as the results from products inventories of the households deviate from the data collected in interviews.Our results show that the term ‘biocide’ is not fully understood by many people. To communicate possible risks of biocidal products, other terms would have to be used. Online information regarding general facts on necessary general hygiene measures and biocidal products against bacteria and insects are likely to be of highest relevance for consumers. However, risk communication for biocidal products in general is difficult because consumers are often not aware of using biocidal products. For this reason, information and awareness raising campaigns should be accompanied by further measures such as sales restrictions for specific user-groups or prohibitions of certain uses for a sustainable use of biocidal products.

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

KW - Biocides

KW - Questionnaire

KW - Risk communication

KW - Sustainable chemistry

KW - Household

KW - consumer

KW - Chemistry

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.11.005

DO - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.11.005

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 29174975

VL - 221

SP - 260

EP - 268

JO - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

JF - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

SN - 1438-4639

IS - 2

ER -