We investigated how the public's perceptions of risk have evolved during a recent crisis concerning health risks of crumb rubber in the Netherlands. Crumb rubber (or rubber granulate) is used as infill of about 1600 artificial turf sport fields in the Netherlands. In October 2016, a Dutch television programme launched an episode in which crumb rubber was framed as a possibly severe health risk for people playing sports on artificial fields, and in special for children. In the weeks that followed, other media in the Netherlands reported on the chemicals in crumb rubber and the (in the television programme) suggested association between crumb rubber and developing cancer. Consequently, a relative high societal commotion arose including some immediate protective measures that were taken by sport clubs and municipalities. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) was asked to conduct a study to provide clarity about the health risks of crumb rubber before the end of 2016. After extensive research, the RIVM concluded that the health risk by exposure to chemicals in crumb rubber is practically negligible, and so it is safe to practice sports at fields with crumb rubber infill.
The crumb rubber case is a clear example of a crisis with strong societal commotion, but involving low health risks according to experts. An accurate understanding of the public’s risk perception may contribute to effective communication during such a crisis. In this type of crisis, which is shaped by risk perception, differences in risk perception between people with different individual and cultural characteristics are likely to be evident. We assessed the perceptions of the Dutch public regarding the risk of crumb rubber before and after publication of the RIVM research results. In addition, we explored the influence of cultural and individual characteristics on these risk perceptions.
Two surveys, one in December 2016 and one in January 2017, were collected via an online survey panel. The study sample of a total of 1031 respondents consisted of 507 respondents representative for the Dutch population (18 years and older), 357 parents of children of 18 years or younger, and 167 parents known to have children of 18 years or younger who play soccer. Questions focused on perception of and responses to the perceived health risk of crumb rubber and several cultural and individual characteristics. Preliminary results will be presented and discussed.