"The risks of current air pollution in world cities seem to have vanished under the dazzling atmosphere of international competitiveness and higher standards of living. But not for all. Yet, the persistent air pollution trend has not been reversed. This book outlines the bewildering contradiction between successful economic regional growth and environmental degradation with subsequent human ill health.

Economic Growth versus the Environment: The Politics of Wealth, Health and Air Pollution connects two contemporary trends, globalization and local change, and integrates the less fashionable, but most important issue of urban pollution and human health risks. It presents interdisciplinary research and a theoretically argued case for analyzing a physical/social problem with a political economy approach. Backed by scientific findings, it challenges the exclusive use of the natural sciences for explaining the trend.

Drawing also on participatory research of local residents, it uses an original database survey in Houston, USA."--BOOK JACKET.