| Table 7-17 |
| Public assessment of potential environmental problems: 1993–2010 |
| (Percent) |
| |
| Potential problem/opinion |
1993 |
1994 |
2000 |
2010 |
| |
| Pollution of America's lakes, rivers, and streams |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
66 |
61 |
66 |
69 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
27 |
29 |
23 |
24 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
| Don't know |
3 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Air pollution caused by industry |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
61 |
53 |
62 |
63 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
30 |
37 |
29 |
31 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
| Don't know |
4 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Pesticides and chemicals used in farming |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
37 |
33 |
45 |
52 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
48 |
49 |
39 |
37 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
11 |
13 |
8 |
8 |
| Don't know |
4 |
5 |
7 |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Rise in temperature caused by climate changea |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
41 |
35 |
40 |
48 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
34 |
35 |
33 |
27 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
14 |
16 |
11 |
18 |
| Don't know |
12 |
14 |
15 |
6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Nuclear power stations |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
40 |
41 |
NA |
45 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
34 |
35 |
NA |
30 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
16 |
15 |
NA |
19 |
| Don't know |
9 |
9 |
NA |
7 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Air pollution caused by cars |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
48 |
43 |
45 |
43 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
38 |
42 |
41 |
46 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
7 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
| Don't know |
7 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Modifying the genes of certain crops |
|
|
|
|
| Extremely/very dangerous |
NA |
NA |
21 |
25 |
| Somewhat dangerous |
NA |
NA |
32 |
33 |
| Not very/not dangerous |
NA |
NA |
25 |
26 |
| Don't know |
NA |
NA |
22 |
16 |
| |
NA = not available, question not asked
a Wording was changed from "the greenhouse effect" to "climate change" in 2010.
NOTES: Responses to In general, do you think that [potential problem] is extremely dangerous for the environment, very dangerous, somewhat dangerous, not very dangerous, or not dangerous at all for the environment? Table includes all years for which data collected. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.
SOURCE: University of Chicago, National Opinion Research Center, General Social Survey (1993–2010).
Science and Engineering Indicators 2012 |
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