Community Annoyance Due to Settleable Dust: Influential Factors in Air Pollution Perception

Subjective assessments of air pollution annoyance reveal that individuals’ focus on specific risks is influenced by their attachment to place, beliefs, values, and behavior rather than the composition or toxic effects of air pollutants. Additionally, the social context plays a role in shaping how communities react to and perceive air pollution impacts. This study examines residents’ environmental perceptions regarding the effects of settleable particles before and after the interruption of a large industrial source in the southern region of Espírito Santo, Brazil (South America). A second objective was to model the relationship between air pollution annoyance and other perceived variables under both scenarios. Data were collected through surveys conducted before and after the interruption of the industrial plant. The Pearson chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression model analyzed the data. Results indicate a shift in residents’ concerns with a focus on social and well-being issues. We also found a small number of items relating to dust annoyance and home ownership that can be used to predict the air pollution impact for individual community members. The findings show that settleable particles are directly perceived by exposed populations and significantly affect community health and quality of life.