Summary

Mellem skepsis, tvivl og tillid - en sociologisk undersøgelse af lægfolks og eksperters risikoopfattelser i forbindelse med brugen af pesticider

The research report investigates the multiple risk perception of lay people and of experts, as these appear in relation to professional and private use of pesticides. The project further examines that which influences these perceptions, and how they are generated. Also, the relations between the risk perceptions of lay people and those of experts are explored, as well as how the regulation of pesticides figures in and becomes part of the risk perceptions. Lay people and experts both express highly differentiated perceptions of risk in relation the use of pesticides. They perceive the use of pesticides as part of a larger picture where pesticides related risks are flanked by a number of other aspects. Also, both groups express understanding for the pesticide dependence of modern societies, in particular with respect to food production. Concomitantly, both groups also express concern and anxiety when it comes to longer term effects of pesticides, in particular for human health and fertility as well as effects for nature, i.e. biodiversity.