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Elöverkänslighet är ett officiellt funktionshinder. Enligt Socialstyrelsens Miljöhälsorapport 2009 uppger 3,2 procent av befolkningen i åldrarna mellan 18 och 80 år att de är känsliga/överkänsliga eller allergiska mot elektriska och magnetiska fält, vilket motsvarar drygt 200 000 personer. 0,4 procent uppger att de har svåra besvär. Detta motsvarar knappt 30 000 personer som får svåra sjukdomsliknande symptom som exempelvis yrsel, illamående, huvudvärk, sömnproblem och hudbesvär när de vistas i elintensiva miljöer som större delen av befolkningen inte besväras av. Avhandlingen består dels av teoretiska studier över radiofrekvent strålning och hur denna kan avskärmas, dels av en enkätundersökning för att undersöka hur landets kommuner, försäkringskassekontor och tre landsting bemöter dessa personer. Genom den arkitektorienterade forskningsmetoden ”research by design” har ett förslag på ett elfritt typhus, som även kan avskärma de högre frekvenserna från den radiofrekventa strålningen, utformats men ännu inte byggts. Utifrån enkätundersökningen framgår att personer med funktionsnedsättningen elöverkänslighet ytterst sällan får hjälp med den tillgänglighetsanpassning i bostaden de enligt svensk lag har rätt till. Avhandlingen visar på vad som byggtekniskt kan utföras för att förbättra boendemiljön för personer med funktionsnedsättningen elöverkänslighet. / Electrohypersensitivity in Sweden is an official functional impairment. According to The National Board of Health and Welfare’s questionnaire from 2009, 3.2 percent of the population aged between 18 and 80 answered that they are sensitive / hypersensitive or allergic to electric and magnetic fields, which represents just over 200 000 people. 0.4 percent said they have severe problems. This corresponds to nearly 30 000 persons who receives severe sickness-like symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headaches, problems with sleeping and skin disorders when they are visiting electricity-intensive environments that are not bothering most of the population. The thesis consists of theoretical studies of radio-frequency emissions and how these can be shielded as well as a survey to investigate how the country's municipalities, social insurance offices and three county councils are receiving these persons. By the architect-oriented research methodology “research by design” a proposal for a type-building free from electricity, which also can shield the higher frequencies from the radio-frequency radiation, is designed but not yet built. The questionnaire survey indicates that persons with the functional impairment electrohypersensitivity very rarely receive the dwelling accessibility adaptation assistance they, according to Swedish law, are entitled to. The thesis shows what can be done by building construction to improve the living for persons with the functional impairment electrohypersensitivity. / QC 20111114

This essay aims to investigate whether Electro hypersensitivity (EHS) can be considered a disability. The essay’s core begins with the problematic point of view that some people claim they are suffering from EHS and experience severe issues when they encounter certain environments that contain radiation, more specifically health care within hospitals. People with EHS believe that their symptoms appear because of electromagnetic fields (EMF) consisting of radiation from Wi-Fi or mobile towers among other things. Because of this, people with EHS find it difficult seeking medical help for not only problems with EHS, but any type of health issues. This, since healthcare often chooses not to adapt and make their facilities available for their intended needs. The symptom itself is not questioned by scientists, doctors, or politicians. The main thing that are questioned on the other hand are the cause of EHS. Some scientists claim that they have trouble seeing a link between the symptoms of EHS occurring because of EMF. Because of this, two sides of EHS arise. One side claim that people experience severe symptoms when they encounter EMF, while the other side claims that this cannot be demonstrated with objective facts. The essay thus aims to answer two questions: first, can EHS be considered a disability? Second, are these people discriminated against within medical health care because of their lack of adequate health care? The answer to these questions is based on applicable laws such as Swedish law and international conventions which Sweden is obligated to follow. Previous medical research is also important to consider. To help answer the questions the theoretical framework of the essay states that a functional limitation does not hinge on an individual's inherent abilities, but rather on the compatibility between a person's physical capabilities and an environment that fails to cater to their specific requirements. Consequently, a functional impairment emerges. The result of the analysis therefore shows that in some cases there can exist a functional impairment even though there is no established disability or disease.