ABSTRACT
The basic reason for risk communication is to inform all those with an interest in decision-
making about the possible risk scenarios and consequences of various risk management
options. Risk communication is not always aimed at decision-making. The general public
as a whole, for example, is rarely in the position to make decisions involving public risk, since
professionals or politicians normally make such decisions on their behalf, but they will
nonetheless be affected by those decisions. Since the public opinion does (at least, in democ-
racies) matter, the actual decision-makers should keep them informed. As such, the public
and its attitudes about risks are important aspects of risk analysis.
