Public Confusion on Chemicals

No single source is trusted by a majority of the British public to tell the truth about the risks of chemicals in household goods used in society, according to a survey by the MORI Social Research Institute for the Scientific Alliance.

From a list of a wide range of sources, including environmental activists, scientists, the government and the media, people were asked which they would trust to tell the truth about risks from chemicals used in household goods.

No single source of information stands out as being much more widely trusted than any other, and none is trusted by more than a third overall. Despite their low levels of trust, the majority of people are not avoiding products or services in their regular shopping because of concerns about health risks from chemicals.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,019 adults aged 15+ across Great Britain. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, in-home between 17-22 July 2003. Data are weighted to the known national population profile. Full details of the survey are available on the Scientific Alliance website: www.scientific-alliance.org.

• Results are based on interviews with 2,019 adults aged 15+ in 192 sample points across Great Britain.
• Interviews were completed face-to-face, in-home between 17-22 July 2003
• Data are weighted to the national population profile
• '*' indicates a value of less than half of one percent, but greater than zero
• Where results do not sum to 100, this is due to computer rounding or multiple answers
• Base all (2,019)

Q1 What springs to mind when I say 'risk from chemicals'?

Base: 1,940 British adults 15+

Q2 Which, if any, of these organisations and types of people would you trust to tell the truth about the risks from the chemicals used in household goods?

Base: 1,940 British adults 15+

* The death of the government scientist, Dr David Kelly, was announced one day into fieldwork, on the 18 July 2003. It is difficult to gauge the degree to which Dr Kelly's death has affected responses to this question. However, a similar question asked for The Scientific Alliance in May 2002 shows a similar degree of trust in government scientists (9%)

Q3 From what you know or have heard about chemicals in food or food products, on balance, which of these statements, if any, most closely reflects your own opinion?

Q4 From what you know or have heard about chemicals in shampoo, on balance, which of these statements, if any, most closely reflects your own opinion?

Base: 1,000 British adults 15+

Q5 Which, if any, of the following activities do you do on a regular basis because of any concerns you may have about the risks from chemicals in household goods? By 'regular', I mean at least once a fortnight.

Base: 1,940 British adults 15+