Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-160).

It began with the loss of the use of her forearm, then the use of her other arm, and then her legs. Headaches became severe migraines; seizures occurred. Her body wasted away and she became needle-thin. A neurologist, a psychiatrist, her family physician could not determine what was wrong. A local specialist, however, recognized the symptoms as those he had seen in others over several years. Concerned that the symptoms might be related to environmental toxins, he alerted the local health authorities. His concerns and those of his patients were not taken seriously, not, that is, until he and his patients coined a name for the symptoms: Somatic Chemically Induced Dysfunction Syndrome, or SCIDS. What was expected to be simply a name for a set of symptoms suddenly became contested. A social problem was defined, and experts from Agriculture, Health, and the Environment Ministries entered the fray. Unrelated at first, degradation of the local aquifer, death of wildlife, and a noticeable decrease in small mammals in the area had been noted. Questions were raised about the links between the two; between the environment and health. Somatic Chemically Induced Dysfunction Syndrome (SCIDS) suggested a causal link with chemicals, moreover with chemicals in the environment. This raised doubts in people's minds about the responsibility and accountability of government, and the authority of experts and the role of science was thrown into question. A private trouble became a public issue. The ensuing conflict revolved around naming and owning a social problem. Both experts and persons with SCIDS invoked science to make their case. Sides were drawn and the conflict was played out to the wider public through the media. It has been commented that research about illnesses of the environment have a bias towards the stories of the sufferers. This dissertation focuses mainly, though not exclusively, on the stories of the various experts involved. Set within the wider frame of social constructionism, I address the ways in which private troubles become public issues and are defined as a social problem. The frames used in this contest to wrest both ownership and thus management of the problem are investigated. The impact of this on a local social movement is examined.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine and Dept. of Public Health, 2004. / "July 2004" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 334-352).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2007.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2006. / Title from title screen. Mary Beth Walker, committee chair; Laura O. Taylor, M. Melinda Pitts, Sally Wallace, committee members. Electronic text (89 p. : ill. (some col.)) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed May 21, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-88).

It began with the loss of the use of her forearm, then the use of her other arm, and then her legs. Headaches became severe migraines; seizures occurred. Her body wasted away and she became needle-thin. A neurologist, a psychiatrist, her family physician could not determine what was wrong. A local specialist, however, recognized the symptoms as those he had seen in others over several years. Concerned that the symptoms might be related to environmental toxins, he alerted the local health authorities. His concerns and those of his patients were not taken seriously, not, that is, until he and his patients coined a name for the symptoms: Somatic Chemically Induced Dysfunction Syndrome, or SCIDS. What was expected to be simply a name for a set of symptoms suddenly became contested. A social problem was defined, and experts from Agriculture, Health, and the Environment Ministries entered the fray. Unrelated at first, degradation of the local aquifer, death of wildlife, and a noticeable decrease in small mammals in the area had been noted. Questions were raised about the links between the two; between the environment and health. Somatic Chemically Induced Dysfunction Syndrome (SCIDS) suggested a causal link with chemicals, moreover with chemicals in the environment. This raised doubts in people's minds about the responsibility and accountability of government, and the authority of experts and the role of science was thrown into question. A private trouble became a public issue. The ensuing conflict revolved around naming and owning a social problem. Both experts and persons with SCIDS invoked science to make their case. Sides were drawn and the conflict was played out to the wider public through the media. It has been commented that research about illnesses of the environment have a bias towards the stories of the sufferers. This dissertation focuses mainly, though not exclusively, on the stories of the various experts involved. Set within the wider frame of social constructionism, I address the ways in which private troubles become public issues and are defined as a social problem. The frames used in this contest to wrest both ownership and thus management of the problem are investigated. The impact of this on a local social movement is examined. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

The purpose of the present study was to discern a symptom pattern for environmentally ill patients and provide evidence of the uniqueness of the resultant pattern to this population. Patients' environmental exposure was confirmed by the presence of toxins in the blood serum. All patients were administered psychological and physical symptom checklists, the Clinical Analysis Questionnaire, and a standardized intermediate neuropsychological examination. Results indicate a response pattern of symptoms including fatigue, low energy, weakness, poor concentration, poor memory, poor comprehension, headaches, aches and pains, clumsiness, sinus discomfort, mucus, eye problems, restlessness, and present performance inferior to prior level of functioning. Presence of these symptoms, as well as the uniqueness of this symptom pattern was supported by comparisons of the patient and standardization groups on the two standardized tests.

Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Environmental Health, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005. / South Durban is in the province of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and is home to two international petro-chemical refineries, a paper mill, sewage works, an international airport, a chemical tank farm with approximately 970 tanks, a number of landfill sites, an airport, various processing and manufacturing industries which are all in close proximity to residential and recreational areas. This area is known as the South Durban Industrial Basin (SDIB). Serious concerns have arisen about the potential health impacts that could arise from ambient air pollution from these industries. Learners and staff at the Settlers Primary School situated in Merebank, a suburb in the SDIB, perceived themselves to be at risk for air pollutant related health effects owing to the schools’ geographic location. The aims of this study was a) to determine the prevalence of asthma among learners from Grades 3 and 6 and staff at Settlers Primary School and b) To investigate whether outdoor air pollutant concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), total reduced sulphur (TRS), carbon monoxide (CO) and respirable particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) were associated with increased signs and symptoms of asthma in the study population. / M

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain if environmentally sensitive patients would demonstrate different memory deficit patterns than psychiatric patients on objectively measurable memory tasks. One-hundred sixteen patients were surveyed; 56 environmentally sensitive patients were compared to 60 psychiatric patients. All subjects were administered a Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised screen, the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised and the Harrell-Butler Comprehensive Neurocognitive Screen after history of head injury was ruled out. Results indicate a significantly different pattern of memory dysfunction between the environmental patients and the psychiatric patients, indicating two different etiologies. A screening device derived from the coefficients from a Canonical Analysis is proposed to distinguish between the two populations in the absence of blood serum levels of environmental toxins or poisons. The detrimental effects of misdiagnosis and the beneficial effects of accurate diagnosis of environmental illness are discussed.

Some suburbs within North West (NW) metropolitan Adelaide have lung cancer mortality up to twice that expected from state averages. Previous international research investigating high lung cancer rates in similar shared industrial and residential areas have had inconsistent results. This case control study was conducted to determine whether residential exposure to industry is a risk factor for lung cancer in NW Adelaide. Contemporary ambient air monitoring was undertaken as an indicator of future respiratory health risk. 142 lung cancer patients and 415 age, gender matched population controls were interviewed utilising an event history calendar. Lifetime exposure indices were calculated for cigarette smoking, passive smoking, occupation, air pollution (residential proximity to industry) and hobbies. Data was analysed utilising chi- quared and conditional logistic regression. Ambient carcinogens and fine particulates with potential industrial sources in the region were monitored in five locations. In the final multivariate model leaving school early, pack- years of cigarettes and not living in close proximity to the power station or light industrial area were statistically significant risk factors for lung cancer. A composite score of residential exposure to all industries was not significant. However cautious interpretation is required as it was noted participating controls resided significantly closer to industry than non-participants. Average concentrations of ambient carcinogens were within guidelines; however diesel exhaust particulate and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons were elevated at sites in proximity to heavy vehicle traffic. Diurnal variations in PM[subscript 2.5] included weather and traffic-related short term peaks, and other peaks potentially related to industrial activity. Cigarette smoking is likely to be the primary cause of elevated lung cancer mortality in suburbs of NW Adelaide. The negative effect of residential exposure to two industries may be due to participation bias. Whilst having more thorough exposure assessment than previous research, this study may have been limited by low participation rates in cases and controls. Air monitoring data suggests there is not a significant public health risk at present; however these results are unlikely to be indicative of historical exposures. Future public health initiatives to curb high lung cancer mortality in the NW should focus on smoking prevention and reduction strategies. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Medicine and Department of Public Health, 2004.