Disproportionate concerns about the safety of public drinking water versus the greater dangers of cigarette smoking reflect problems of

They reflect the problems of " public risk perceptions".

Risk perception is the subjective judgment that individuals make about the attributes and seriousness of a hazard. The expression is most regularly utilized as a part of reference to perils and dangers to the environment or public well-being. Many speculations have been proposed to clarify why diverse individuals make distinctive assessments of the peril of risks.