SYTTY
ENVIRONMENT, DECISION-MAKING AND WELL-BEING - INSECURITY, UNCERTAINTY AND CRISIS OF EXPERTISE
Project leader: Aulikki Nissinen, National Public Health Institute,
Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland, e-mail: Aulikki.Nissinen@ktl.fi
| PUBLICATIONS |
| TIIVISTELMÄ SUOMEKSI |
Researchers:
Aija Kettunen, Univeristy of Kuopio
Pauli Niemilä, Univeristy of Kuopio, e-mail: Pauli.Niemela@uku.fi
Sirkka-Liisa Pamilo, University of Kuopio, e-mail: Sirkka-Liisa.Pamilo@uku.fi
Consortium: Moisture, mould and health
Financing SYTTY organisation: The Academy of Finland
Funding from SYTTY / Total funding of project (€): 207493/316815
Person-months of work funded by SYTTY / Total person-months of work:
69/81,5
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
1 Introduction
Indoor air problems caused by moisture and mould damages of buildings are prevalent in Finland. Exposure to the airborne fungi and bacteria is associated with elevated risk of respiratory symptoms and diseases both among children and adults. Finnish people rank environmental risks among the topmost threats of life. People are uncertain, because the opinions of experts do not accord; decision-makers find it difficult to deal with uncertainty. It is also possible that uncertainty itself contributes insecurity and hence may have health implications.
Aims
The study examined the perceived concern of people about moisture and
mould problem and its association with the measured moisture and mould
problem of the buildings. Another focus was to analyse decision-makig process,
which aimed at controlling the problem in the municipality. The aim was
to explain how moisture and mould problems are handled in the planning
and decision making process in municipalities. The study also aimed to
model future environmental health planning and decision-making system concerning
mould and moisture problems in schools.
2 Material and methods
Two municipalities were selected in the eastern part of Finland; Tuusniemi (3308 inhabitants) and from Siilinjärvi one village (5069) inhabitants to observe possible differences between two types of communities. Intervention took place only in Tuusniemi where the reconstruction of one school building was planned in 1998-1999, and started in 2000.
Buildings: Two schools, one in Siilinjärvi and one in Tuusniemi were inspected to characterise the exposure, and air and surface samples were taken in 1998 and 1999. In addition the local health center was inspected to characterise the exposure.
Pupils of schools and workers in the buildings were asked about health problems by self-administrative questionnaire with 90% response in 1999.
Population surveys
First survey was carried among the random samples of population among
30-39 and 50-59 year old people in both areas in 1999 and another survey
for those who responded (65%) in 2000. Self administrative questionnaire
included questions about health, lifestyle and self perceived health, security
and uncertainty.
Survey among decision makers
Data used in the reference analysis was collected by the structured
survey questionnaire, documents about plans and decisions of the mould
problem in schools chosen to this study and writings in local papers dealing
the same mould problem schools. Analyses were concentrated in planning
and decision making process and its particular features. The material was
collected mainly during the year 2000. The survey consisted of 223 questionnaires,
which were posted to local officials and decision makers in May 2000. After
a renewed survey, 140 active responses were received in all i.e. 63 % of
the whole - a very satisfactory boost to this kind of data. No systematic
loss in the data was discerned. The cleaned response rate was in Tuusniemi
67 % and in Siilinjärvi 66 %.
Intervention
Intervention carried out in Tuusniemi included special information
to the public and decision makers about the magnitude of the problem and
the activities planned by the authorities. The reconstruction for the school
with moisture and mould problem was planned.
3 Results and discussion
Perceived concern of people
The results show rather high general awareness about moisture and mould
problem. The association between perceived problem of the users of case
buildings and measured mould problem was not strong. Even if the measured
problem and health situation in two schools were similar, the user’s concern
about the problem differed between the schools (municipalities). This indicates
that perception of the problem has correlations for example with the knowledge
and also satisfaction with the organizing environmental health care in
the municipality. People worried more about the problem in workplaces and
public buildings than the problem at home. Those, who had reasons to believe
that they have been affected to mould damage, worried more than others.
Since the worry derives from unsuccessful problem management, and may indicate
the willingness to take action, the improvement of people’s own abilities
in managing the problem has potential to decrease the worry about the consequences
of mould.
Planning and decision making in municipalities
~ Moisture and mould problem as an environmental health policy
question
Preliminary survey results show that moisture and mould problems are
a fairly new and complicated bunch of problems in the planning and decision
making process. The answers did not have any specific handling model for
making decisions about the "mouldy schools" although the process was quite
the same in both cases (more similarities than differences). Local officials
and decision makers were worried about health impacts though the argumentation
in decision-making was mainly based on economic values. Most of the differences
were found in the categories of co-operation and leading principles. Co-operation
was working well in both municipalities among municipal authorities but
only moderately between municipal officials/employees. There was not much
co-operation among members of the municipal committee. The elected officials
and members of the municipal board in Siilinjärvi were more co-operative
than those in Tuusniemi. The expected aims were reached best with the inspector
of the environmental protection department and only moderately with people
working in the construction/engineering department and with labour protection
officials. The leading decision-making principles in Siilinjärvi were
in rank order:
1) the image of the municipality and 2) the participation of the inhabitants.
In Tuusniemi they were: 1) fairness of the decision making process, 2)
promoting relations with economic life and 3) co-operation with government
officials.
The decision makers take mould and moisture problems seriously but
yet more attention should be paid to the indoor air quality (97,7 %). 60
% of the total considered that health aspects are not managed well enough
in the decision-making process. According to answers mould problems should
belong both to the short and long term planning (90 %) and all the
administrative sectors should take part in the handling process (74 %).
Mould problems in schools have activated inhabitants to participate in
the local environmental planning (75,6 %). Complains did not slow up the
decision making process unreasonably (78,7 %). The decision makers in Siilinjärvi
worried more about mould problems in schools than those in Tuusniemi. Three
same worry categories were ranked in order in both municipalities: 1) Lack
of information concerning construction, 2) The image of the municipality
(especially Siilinjärvi), 3) Finance and health problems.
Getting information of the on going in door air quality problem process is not easy. There is lack of information, the information available is fragmented and is given too late. Most important guidelines were the normative ones, municipal instructions, plans and decisions and the scientific researchers. The most important sources of information were co-workers and resource reports. Resource reports were more commonly used in Siilinjärvi than in Tuusniemi. Most often the decision makers asked information from the inspector of the environmental protection or from the inspector of the health department.
4 Conclusions
According to preliminary results the problem is worth examining and the methods chosen have shown to be valid. Results of the study will help to understand and process moisture and mould problems as well as other multi-dimensional health problems in democratic decision making in municipalities. The further analysis of data will provide more information about both the perceived concern and the decision making process.
5 Co-operation
Indoor air exposure to mould has been characterised by the other project in the consortium, “Schools, mould and health – an intervention study”.
Health studies focusing in diseases associated with indoor air exposure
to mould have been interpreted and partly surveyed by Dr. Tuula Husman,
National Public Health Institute. Consultation and intensive informing
about moisture and mould problems have been conducted with the help of
Dr. Tuula Husman and researchers in other projects of the consortium, “Schools,
mould and health – an intervention study” and “Development the methods
to monitor the effectiveness of repairs”.