A geography of the disruptive effects of contaminated sites on residents’ mental health: The regulation of PFAS sites in NSW, Australia

Legg, Rupert Guy Spencer

A geography of the disruptive effects of contaminated sites on residents’ mental health: The regulation of PFAS sites in NSW, Australia

Legg, Rupert Guy Spencer

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Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2023

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Legg, Rupert Guy Spencer
dc.date.accessioned	2024-04-02T04:24:40Z
dc.date.available	2024-04-02T04:24:40Z
dc.date.issued	2023
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/177434
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Institute for Sustainable Futures.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	The increasing global prevalence of anthropogenic environmental hazards, such as industrial contamination, requires evaluating whether the interventions and protective measures put in place to mitigate such hazards improve health and wellbeing. This thesis explores how the regulation of sites contaminated by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) relates to the mental health and wellbeing of residents living with the contamination. This relationship was explored through thematic analysis of interviews with residents and government officials (n = 16), a quantitative survey of residents (n = 178), and document analysis. Results indicate that the chemicals’ unique properties rendered regulating contaminated sites particularly difficult. The persistence, durability and mobility of the chemicals led to jurisdictional cross-boundary incursions, from Australian Federal to State Government land, resulting in confusion as to which jurisdiction was responsible for the regulatory response. Likewise, the scientific ambiguity surrounding the toxicity of the chemicals and an apparent mismatch with the risk communicated by government officials caused considerable uncertainty, distrust and concern amongst residents. Residents also experienced declining connections to their bodies, homes and local environment, exacerbating mental health and wellbeing outcomes. For instance, the home, which residents referred to as once being a place of safety and security, instead became associated with harm and danger. Future regulation of PFAS contaminated sites should consider residents’ relationships to these domains and possible adverse mental health effects.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/177434/1/thesis.pdf
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	© 2023 Rupert Guy Spencer Legg
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/nph
dc.title	A geography of the disruptive effects of contaminated sites on residents’ mental health: The regulation of PFAS sites in NSW, Australia	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2024-11-30T00:00:00+1000

Abstract:

The increasing global prevalence of anthropogenic environmental hazards, such as industrial contamination, requires evaluating whether the interventions and protective measures put in place to mitigate such hazards improve health and wellbeing. This thesis explores how the regulation of sites contaminated by per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) relates to the mental health and wellbeing of residents living with the contamination. This relationship was explored through thematic analysis of interviews with residents and government officials (n = 16), a quantitative survey of residents (n = 178), and document analysis. Results indicate that the chemicals’ unique properties rendered regulating contaminated sites particularly difficult. The persistence, durability and mobility of the chemicals led to jurisdictional cross-boundary incursions, from Australian Federal to State Government land, resulting in confusion as to which jurisdiction was responsible for the regulatory response. Likewise, the scientific ambiguity surrounding the toxicity of the chemicals and an apparent mismatch with the risk communicated by government officials caused considerable uncertainty, distrust and concern amongst residents. Residents also experienced declining connections to their bodies, homes and local environment, exacerbating mental health and wellbeing outcomes. For instance, the home, which residents referred to as once being a place of safety and security, instead became associated with harm and danger. Future regulation of PFAS contaminated sites should consider residents’ relationships to these domains and possible adverse mental health effects.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/177434