Abstract
Recent trends of transport investment has paved the way for significant road developments in many developing countries. The environmental consequences of such road development, as well as the occupational health and safety of construction workers, have been widely acknowledged and, in many cases, addressed in recent projects. During the construction process, however, little consideration has been given to the public health impacts and vulnerabilities of road development on nearby communities. The most commonly used method for reducing and mitigating the effects of road development projects has been Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). However, there is a lack of understanding about whether and how wider health determinants are taken into account in these environmental assessments. As a result, it is critical to adequately address and evaluate the potential health impacts and vulnerabilities to the nearby community during the road construction stage. This research investigates these public health impacts and vulnerabilities in road projects, particularly concerning Sri Lanka, which has experienced extensive road investment after the civil war. The research aimed to develop an assessment framework to assess health impacts and vulnerabilities to the nearby community during the construction stage of road projects in Sri Lanka. Firstly, global and national level document reviews were conducted to identify the state of the art in addressing public health in impact assessments. Secondly, a systematic literature review along with thirty-two semi- structured interviews were conducted in Sri Lanka to obtain the experts' opinions on the inclusion of health impact during the road projects. The initial assessment framework on public health impacts and vulnerabilities was then refined using four case studies in Sri Lanka. A qualitative content analysis was performed to identify the potential health impacts, vulnerabilities, barriers and enablers during the projects to tackle these impacts on nearby communities. The findings show that health evaluations in EIAs are less comprehensive than other factors in both global and local contexts, partly due to a lack of legislative requirements. However, it was revealed through the expert interviews and case studies that the potential health impacts go beyond the typical impact categories included in the EIAs. Overall, twenty-six impacts were identified and categorised into six main categories: dust nuisance, noise and vibration nuisance, infectious disease, water quality and water usage, injuries and accidents and other health impacts. Age, gender, pregnancy, current health status and disabilities were identified as the main vulnerable factors of the nearby community during the road projects. The findings of this study indicate atwo-part assessment framework comprising wider health determinants, risk factors, health impacts, vulnerable groups and harmful activities. These findings emphasise the critical importance of increasing capacity, both within and outside of government, to fully recognise the public health impacts of road development via impact assessments. To address the broader public health issue under the impact assessment process, policymakers should establish an integrated public health assessment for all road construction projects.
| Date of Award | 13 Jun 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Richard Haigh (Main Supervisor) & Dilanthi Amaratunga (Co-Supervisor) |