Background
Buildings and their associatedtraffic movements can have a
significant detrimental impact on health, especially during their
construction period. Such impacts range from the global to the local,
with carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels
contributing to climate change (via the greenhouse effect) at one end of
the spectrum, and smells, dust and fumes affecting local air quality at
the other.
Many pollutants are to be found in modern buildings where numerous
gases and particles are given off by materials and appliances and
ventilation can play an important role. An increasing number of
allocated development sites require expensive remedial treatment to make
them suitable for use. This reflects a greater need to utilise land
contaminated by previous industrial activities.
Incoming industries will need to investigate these costs and risks by
contacting the relevant local authority for information at the site
assessment stage. Even fairly small operations may have adverse
localised effects on adjoining activities or homes through their own
emissions and some may require separation zones or ‘cordon sanitaires’.
Heavier industry is still capable of transferring airborne pollution
over long distances, often in clouds of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides, which can damage building exteriors, trees and crops. These
gases can harm human health when they react with concentrations of other
airborne pollutants at a local level, notably those produced by
transport and heating systems.
A key priority is to cut transport related emissions, where the
adverse impact of more travel continues to outstrip the benefits of
introducing more efficient technologies (see Travel and Transport).
Elsewhere improved design and specification processes can play a
crucial role in addressing health factors, as well as providing
facilities, such as recreational space, that can promote healthier
lifestyles. (See Building Design and Specification.)
Sustainable developments will minimise the amount of polluting emissions and discharges to air, water and soil, both on site and off site, and restrict noise and light pollution.
