Katajamäki H, Suomalainen R
University of Vaasa, Leyón Institute, P.O. Box 700, FIN-65101 Vaasa, Finland.
Ambio. 2001 Aug;30(4-5):272-6.
Vaasa, located on the Gulf of Bothnia, is representative of medium-sized cities on the coast of the Baltic Sea. This article discusses Vaasa's impact on the surrounding sea area and the city's reactions to the pollution of the sea. The history of wastewater treatment in Vaasa strongly suggests that first-generation environmental problems, e.g. the pollution problems caused by municipal wastewater discharges, were solved only as a last resort after a prolonged development process. The first wastewater treatment plant was completed in 1953. In the long run, municipal policies became more costly for the environment and for the town itself than would have been the case if the option of constructing a central treatment plant had been accepted in the first instance. In Vaasa, the environment itself did not provide the incentive, the change was motivated by health risks, noxious odors and poor outdoor-bathing possibilities that resulted from municipal wastewater discharges. No action was taken until ultimately forced by necessity. This article also discusses social science approaches to environmental studies.
位于波的尼亚湾的瓦萨是波罗的海沿岸中型城市的代表。本文探讨了瓦萨对周边海域的影响以及该市对海洋污染的应对措施。瓦萨的废水处理历史有力地表明，第一代环境问题，例如城市污水排放造成的污染问题，只是在经历了漫长的发展过程后才作为最后的手段得以解决。第一座废水处理厂于1953年建成。从长远来看，城市政策对环境和城市本身造成的代价，比一开始就选择建设中央处理厂的情况要高。在瓦萨，环境本身并没有提供动力，这种改变是由健康风险、恶臭以及城市污水排放导致的户外游泳条件差所推动的。直到迫不得已，才采取行动。本文还讨论了环境研究的社会科学方法。
