Title:
Healthy residential developments: reducing pollutant exposures for vulnerable populations with multiple chemical sensitivities

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dc.contributor.advisor Steinemann, Anne
dc.contributor.author Waddick, Caitlin Janson en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Caress, Stanley
dc.contributor.committeeMember Immergluck, Dan
dc.contributor.committeeMember Norton, Bryan
dc.contributor.committeeMember Vidal, Avis
dc.contributor.department City Planning en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2011-03-04T21:03:13Z
dc.date.available 2011-03-04T21:03:13Z
dc.date.issued 2010-11-03 en_US
dc.description.abstract Many serious illnesses are linked to everyday exposures to toxic chemicals. In the U.S., most chemical exposure comes from common consumer products such as pesticides, fragranced products, cleaning supplies, and building materials--products so widely used that people consider them "safe." As the links between everyday toxic exposures and potential health effects become better understood, evidence increasingly shows that reducing exposures can create a healthier society. Although some individuals may choose to build a healthy home and maintain a healthy household, they are still exposed to pollutants at their residences from the actions of others, such as to pesticides that are used by neighbors, businesses, and governments. They need healthy residential developments in environmentally healthy communities. This research investigates "healthy residential developments," defined as a property that aims to reduce pollutant exposures to the extent required by vulnerable populations, which for this research are individuals with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Through a case study approach, this research investigates two exemplars of healthy residential developments, and explains how and why they form and continue. It also examines their implementation methods, and implications for planning and policy. Primary data collection methods included in-person interviews, telephone interviews, and site visits. Research strategies included the analysis of interview data, and categorical aggregation using thematic categories within and across cases. The categories focused on factors of formation and continuation for the two healthy residential developments. Findings include the challenges of people disabled with MCS to find safe housing; the importance of planning to address these challenges; the role of individuals, funding, and zoning in the formation of healthy residential developments; the role of funding, safe maintenance, and property management in their continuation; and, the need for affordable and safe housing for vulnerable populations. Future research can address the need to develop methods to create and sustain healthy residential developments, understand and reduce sources of exposure that initiate and trigger chemical sensitivity, and investigate experiences and implementation strategies in other countries. en_US
dc.description.degree Ph.D. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/37270
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology en_US
dc.subject Environmental illness en_US
dc.subject Human exposures en_US
dc.subject Healthy housing en_US
dc.subject Environmental health en_US
dc.subject Healthy communities en_US
dc.subject Healthy building en_US
dc.subject Community development en_US
dc.subject Human health impacts en_US
dc.subject Chemical exposures en_US
dc.subject Environmental policy en_US
dc.subject Environmental planning en_US
dc.subject Housing policy en_US
dc.subject Exposure analysis en_US
dc.subject Exposure reduction en_US
dc.subject Green building en_US
dc.subject Pesticide exposure en_US
dc.subject Sustainable development en_US
dc.subject Healthy places en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Environmentally induced diseases
dc.subject.lcsh Multiple chemical sensitivity
dc.subject.lcsh Sustainable architecture
dc.title Healthy residential developments: reducing pollutant exposures for vulnerable populations with multiple chemical sensitivities en_US
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.corporatename College of Design
local.contributor.corporatename School of City and Regional Planning
local.relation.ispartofseries Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in City and Regional Planning
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication c997b6a0-7e87-4a6f-b6fc-932d776ba8d0
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 2757446f-5a41-41df-a4ef-166288786ed3
relation.isSeriesOfPublication df7b7c2d-cd1c-48cf-ac1b-e69f299f9774
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