1. Exploring Geographic Patterns of Fluoride Contamination and Their Role in Environmental Disaster Preparedness.
- Author
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Chenglong Zhong
- Subjects
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EMERGENCY management , *GEOGRAPHICAL perception , *ENVIRONMENTAL disasters , *PLANNED behavior theory , *RISK perception , *DISASTER resilience - Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the complex relationships between environmental monitoring efforts (EME), community engagement (CE), and environmental risk perception (ERP) in the context of improving environmental disaster preparedness (EDP) in the specific case of fluoride pollution. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a conceptual framework, the study examines the effect of several variables on disaster preparation behavior in communities exposed to environmental risks. Methods: The data was collected from people living in Shanxi Province, China, an area that suffers from severe fluoride contamination. Results: The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) indicate that community engagement significantly improves the perception of environmental risk, which, in turn, positively impacts the preparation for disasters. Moreover, environmental monitoring efforts were shown to be a mediator of the association between community participation and disaster preparation, underscoring the crucial role that systematic monitoring plays in disaster management. The results indicate that including social and environmental elements is crucial for improving the ability of communities to withstand and recover from environmental catastrophes. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that there is an urgent need to consider social, and environmental aspects if the resilience of communities to, and their recovery from, environmental disasters is to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024