Housing-related health problems

Abstract

Utjecaj stanovanja na zdravlje kompleksan je fenomen. Brojni kemijski, biološki, fizikalni te socioekonomski čimbenici stanovanja utječu na zdravstveno stanje. Od kemijskih čimbenika olovo, azbest, radon i ugljikov monoksid mogu se naći u stambenim prostorima i imati zdravstvene posljedice. Grinje, insekti i glodavci ubrajaju se u biološke čimbenike koji djeluju na zdravlje jer mogu uzrokovati brojne bolesti. Od fizikalnih čimbenika svakako treba izdvojiti buku i njene posljedice na zdravlje. Posjedovanje stana, prenapučenost, život u visokokatnicama su socioekonomski čimbenici koji utječu na kvalitetu života. Postoje brojni sindromi koji se povezuju sa stambenim prostorom. Najpoznatiji je sindrom bolesne zgrade. Uglavnom se javlja u novim ili novo preuređenim zgradama sa klimatizacijom ili ventilacijom, a simptomi koji se javljaju su uglavnom respiratorni, kožni i neurološki. Ostali sindromi uključuju mnogostruku kemijsku preosjetljivost i elektromagnetsku preosjetljivost, čiji se simptomi često isprepleću. Urbani vrtovi te urbana i peri-urbana hortikultura obuhvaća sadnju biljaka u gradovima i njihovoj okolici. Iako se radi o novom trendu on ima sve značajniji ekonomski, socijalni i prehrambeni utjecaj, a također i pozitivan utjecaj na okoliš. Na ovaj način povećava se konzumacija svježeg voća i povrća, povećava se fizička aktivnost onih koji rade u vrtovima te se oni zbog kontakta s prirodom osjećaju smirenije i opuštenije. Primjenom ove prakse stvaraju se dodatni izvori prihoda, što je jako bitno za ljude u zemljama u razvoju.The way that housing impacts health is a complex phenomenon. There are number of chemical, biological, physical and socioeconomic factors that can affect health condition. Chemical factors such as lead, asbestos, radon and carbon monoxide can be found in residential spaces and may induce health issues. Dust mites, insects and rodents are among the biological factors that affect health because they can cause a number of diseases. Of physical factors most important is noise and health consequences it brings. Housing tenure, overcrowding, life in skyscrapers are socioeconomic factors that affect quality of life. There are number of syndromes related with housing. The best known is sick building syndrome. It usually occurs in new or newly renovated buildings with air conditioning or ventilation, and it's presented with respiratory, skin and neurological symptoms. Other syndromes are multiple chemical sensitivity and electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Symptoms of these two conditions are usually intertwined. Urban gardens and urban and peri-urban horticulture include all horticultural crops grown within and in the immediate surroundings of cities. Although this is a new trend it has an important economic, social and nutritional impact, and also a positive impact on the environment. This practice increases the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, increases physical activity of those who work in the gardens and makes them feel more relaxed because of their contact with nature. Practicing this creates a source of extra income, which is very important for people in developing countries