Introduction
The Territorial Analysis and Tourism Studies Research Group (GRATET) of the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) has carried out a study on the population’s perception of risk in relation to the chemical industry in Camp de Tarragona. This project, called CHORA, has revealed interesting findings about how people perceive petrochemical risk and how this perception is influenced by various factors.
Results of the study
According to the study, 63% of the people participating in the study perceive a high or very high level of petrochemical risk in Camp de Tarragona. In addition, these people are able to geographically identify the origin of the risk and the places that could be affected in the event of an accident. The study has also shown that factors such as gender, age, climatic conditions and anomalies in the operation of industrial facilities affect the perception of risk.
Variables that affect the perception of risk
The study has identified several variables that influence the perception of risk. Among these variables are the geographical proximity to the foci of danger, the severity of the previous incidents, the frequency and the knowledge that one has about these incidents. In addition, it has been observed that women have a higher risk perception than men and that this perception increases with age.
The relationship between risk perception and emotional well-being
The study has also shown that a prolonged high perception of risk can affect people’s emotional well-being, increasing diagnoses of mental illnesses and exacerbating existing ones. For this reason, the GRATET research group is investigating how to improve urban landscapes to reduce levels of risk perception and promote the emotional well-being of the population.
Conclusions and next steps
The study carried out by GRATET has provided an interesting insight into how people perceive the risk of the chemical industry in Camp de Tarragona. Based on these results, the research group is looking for volunteers to expand the research and study how changes in the landscape can affect risk perception. This research is essential to promote sustainable development and ensure the safety of the population in this area.
