Risk perception: a field of interest for the interface between environment, health, and sustainability

In this article, the authors discuss the complex field of perception, more specifically of the perception of risk, drawing on a theoretical and methodological essay that seeks to stress the importance of risk perception in studies related to the interface environment, health and sustainability. Recognizing that social and cultural elements shape in direct and indirect ways individual's perceptions of different risks, the authors flag that studies in this field can point out specific interests, values, and points of conflicts that exist in the arenas and offer insights that would help decision makers improve their decision making processes with greater involvement of society. In addition to risk perception, the article also discusses examples of investigations conducted by the authors focusing on environmental perception. Searching for a critical perspective to cover the subject, the authors recognize the need to understand, in environmental and societal processes, the setting of socio-environmental risks and how they are perceived. (AU)