Lai Lili, Beijing University (Small Grant 2010)

This project examined daily hygiene and environmental health problems that have accompanied the urbanisation of the countryside, tracing the way in which environmental health problems have changed and the ways in which rural people respond to these changes.  The project entailed a collaboration between Lai Lili, medical anthropologist from Beijing University and the Henan Center for Disease Control (CDC).  A field study was conducted in rural Henan.  Main research methods were participant observation, as well as in-depth interviews with villagers, government officials and village doctors. The project also involved experimental use of inexpensive water testing devices.

The project found that rising living standards in rural areas have gone hand in hand with an emerging "rural environmental crisis.”   The county in which research was conducted has experienced rapid economic development, with many young people migrating to work in cities. This has increased family incomes and changed lifestyles rapidly.  Changing living conditions have in turn produced new types of garbage associated with urban lifestyles, but rural areas lack the infrastructure and services for garbage disposal that are available in urban areas.  Where formerly much food was home grown and food waste was composted, the purchase of more food has increased food waste. Packaging is also more elaborate and often not biodegradable. But organized trash collection is rare. 

Flush toilets in the absence of water treatment facilities have also led to a problem of household waste water.  As water improvement projects have provided piped water, villagers no longer rely on surface and ground water for drinking, lessening concern with its quality.  Testing showed that some water sources exceeded standards for arsenic and mercury but were below levels dangerous to health.