Chapter VII MEDICAL WASTE: RISK PERCEPTION AND COMMUNICATION OrtwinRenn Cenler for Technology, Environment, and Development (CENT ED), Clark University and Vincent Covello, Center for Risk Communication, Columbia University, with the assistance of M.E. Hafey (Clark University) and Brian Lehrer (Columbia University) Introduction On May 23, 1988, needles, syringes, blood vials, and other medical waste washed up on the beaches of New Jersey. This incident marked the beginning of a series of medical waste incidents along beaches in New England, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, and other locations throughout the Unites States (CSG 1988; OTA 1988). In early July medical waste was found on the beaches of New York. By mid-July medical debris began turning up on beaches from Connecticut to Martha's Vineyard, and in August medical wastes washed ashore in Maryland and North Carolina (Boston Globe, September 4, 1988). Many beaches in New Jersey, New York, and other states were closed due to such incidents. Although complete data are not available on the economic costs of beach closings and adverse publicity, it is clear that the tourist indnstry experienced a major decline in revenues as did related businesses. For example, a survey done in New Jersey found that tourism was down more than 20 percent and revenues were down almost 10 percent (NJDEP 1988). Intensive media coverage of beach incidents and beach closings continued unabated throughout the summer of 1988. Medical waste on the beaches even became a important topic in the 1988 presidential campaign. Beach problems were, however, only part of the medical waste problem. In Indianapolis, for example, children were found playing with discarded needles and vials of blood, two of which were infected with AIDS. The needles and vials had been dumped .. VII. I ..