In times of rapid urbanization, increasing usage of chemicals in buildings, and energy saving measures, the topic of indoor air quality (IAQ) demands reinforced attention. Nevertheless, especially in developing countries with urgent building construction needs, IAQ has hardly been examined. This study investigates the condition of IAQ and health of occupants in newly constructed high-rise apartments in contrast to traditional detached houses (Kampongs) in Surabaya, Indonesia. Information on building attributes, cleaning and ventilation behavior, interior sources, personal characteristics and health, especially multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), was collected through 471 questionnaires. In addition, 76 measurements of TVOCs, formaldehyde and 30 measurements of mold risk were carried out. The results showed that the share of people in apartments with a very suggestive risk of MCS was twice as high as that in Kampongs (17.6% vs. 6.7%). Correlation analysis suggested that for both residential types, health problems, negative smell or perception of IAQ, and higher levels of stress determined higher degrees of MCS. For IAQ, high concentrations of formaldehyde and TVOCs were measured in apartments and corresponded to higher MCS risk, whereas severe mold issues were predicted in Kampongs. This study suggests major shortcomings in the indoor environment in newly constructed apartments for the physical and the mental health of occupants.
Zusammenfassung Wohnraumverknappung, steigende Miet- und Kaufpreise sowie Diskussionen um das „Recht auf Stadt“ bilden die Kulisse für das aktuelle Interesse an der Genossenschaftsidee in deutschen Großstädten. Im Zentrum steht dabei die Frage, inwieweit genossenschaftliche Wohnmodelle dazu beitragen können, eine sozial gerechtere Wohnversorgung sicherzustellen und die renditegetriebenen Entwicklungen auf den städtischen Immobilienmärkten abzufedern. Neben ihrer wohnungspolitischen Bedeutung erscheinen kooperative Wohnformen als besonders geeignet, um auf die neu entstehenden Wohnbedürfnisse einer individualisierten und alternden Gesellschaft zu reagieren. Die kollektive Organisation von Wohnraum spricht unterschiedliche Bevölkerungsgruppen mit differenzierten Wohnvorstellungen an. Gleichzeitig beeinflussen regionale und lokale Bedingungen die Handlungsmöglichkeiten genossenschaftlicher Akteure im starken Maß. Vor diesem Hintergrund behandelt der Beitrag die spezifische Situation der Bestandsgenossenschaften in der Stadt Leipzig, die nach Jahren des Wohnungsleerstandes, Rückbaus und Mitgliederschwundes zunehmend mit Fragen der sozialen Entmischung, neuen Integrationsaufgaben und des Generationenwechsels konfrontiert sind. Auf der Grundlage einer Befragung von Mitgliedern stellt der Beitrag das Verhältnis von abstrakten Genossenschaftsprinzipien und den Bedürfnissen, Interessen und Praktiken im Alltag der Mitglieder einer Traditionsgenossenschaft in den Mittelpunkt. Einen Referenzrahmen für die Einordnung dieser Ergebnisse bildet das Selbstverständnis der jungen Kollektivhausszene, die sich in den letzten Jahren unter den Bedingungen von Leerständen und Überangeboten auf dem Wohnungsmarkt in Leipzig etablieren konnte.
<p>River water quality changes have been shown to follow typical trajectories, often characterized by sequential phases of accelerated degradation, environmental recovery, and responsive management. However, the relationships between anthropogenic mitigation measures such as regulatory interventions and their effects on water quality remain rarely studied and poorly understood.</p><p>In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of three types of regulations: source-control, use-related and end-of-pipe regulations. Using phosphorus (P) as a model substance for water quality, we analyse a 50-year trajectory of measured total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the river Ruhr, Germany, and link this with a comprehensive analysis of water quality related laws and regulations being enforced at the national and European level over the same time period. We categorized the regulations according to the aforementioned types and re-analysed the infrastructure developments and operation modes in a literature review and based on research in the archives of the responsible river basin management authority.</p><p>The strong decline of TP concentrations from a maximum of 0.59mg/l TP in 1977 to around 0.05mg/l TP in the early 21<sup>st</sup> century resulted dominantly from source control by banning of P in detergents, the parallel construction of wastewater treatment plants and their sequential upgrade to treatment stages incorporating P removal. Thus, while point source pollution decreased, the share of agricultural and other diffuse sources of riverine TP concentrations increased to around 50%, making them the focus of attention nowadays. As source control and end-of-pipe measures have reached a level at which a further reduction of TP concentration in the river through those means would be marginal, use-related measures gain importance, especially for agricultural practices.</p><p>Our results show that source-control was the most effective and fastest way of reducing TP pollution, whereas end-of-pipe measures were a necessary, complementary way to reduce P related water quality impairment. Given the current dominance of diffuse pollution sources resulting from agricultural inputs, where the effectiveness of regulation is likely to be limited, additional measures such as awareness, economic incentives and support for agricultural best management practices need to be addressed. These findings may provide important insights into understanding the effectiveness of different regulatory measures, in particular with regard to the increasing introduction of (new) pollutants and associated impacts on the environment and human health.</p>
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